sleuth

[ slooth ]

noun

1. a detective.

   Synonyms: investigator, shamus, gumshoe, private eye, private investigator

2. a bloodhound, a dog used for tracking.

verb (used with or without object)

1. to track or trail, as a detective.

sleuth

/ sluːθ /

noun

1. an informal word for detective
2. short for sleuthhound

verb

1. tr to track or follow

Other Words From

• sleuthlike adjective
• super·sleuth noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sleuth¹

First recorded in 1875–80; short for sleuthhound

Word History and Origins

Origin of sleuth¹

C19: short for sleuthhound, from C12 sleuth trail, from Old Norse sloth; see slot ²

Example Sentences

But the piecemeal allegations leveled in the criminal and civil cases stopped short of answering an essential question that’s been hinted at by attorneys, investigators and internet sleuths: Who else was involved?

From Los Angeles Times

After his initial sleuthing, Mr Cleary contacted biographer Paul Murray - who confirmed there had been no trace of the story for over a century.

From BBC

My son is a private citizen, but the unusual and violent reaction to his autistic spelling shows similar confluences of eager internet sleuths ready to treat a seven-second clip as a Zapruder film.

From Salon

What clients, online sleuths and ultimately law enforcement found was essentially a Ponzi scheme, prosecutors said.

From Los Angeles Times

But that was quickly overtaken by a wave of amateur social media sleuths, posting hurtful and wildly misleading claims about the case - with the family receiving online hate.

From BBC

Related Words

• gumshoe
• private detective
• private eye