private detective

noun

1. a detective who is not a member of an official force but is employed by private parties.

private detective

noun

1. an individual privately employed to investigate a crime, keep watch on a suspected person, or make other inquiries Also calledprivate investigator

Word History and Origins

Origin of private detective¹

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

After the alleged extortion started, Huang said, he hired an attorney and a private detective and began surreptitiously recording conversations with the defendants.

From Los Angeles Times

Police accused people on TikTok of "playing private detectives" in the area, and said they had been "inundated with false information, accusations and rumours" relating to the case.

From BBC

Police had accused people on TikTok of "playing private detectives" in the area amid her disappearance, and said they had been "inundated with false information, accusations and rumours" relating to the case.

From BBC

He even hired a private detective, though he was disappointed with the man’s effort.

From Los Angeles Times

Both articles were produced during a period when the newspaper has acknowledged paying the private detective explicitly to obtain material surreptitiously.

From New York Times

Related Words

• detective
• gumshoe
• private eye
• private investigator
• sleuth