detective

detective — noun

1. a member of the police who specialises in solving crimes by examining clues and

1.nounA2
Definition

a member of the police who specialises in solving crimes by examining clues and interviewing people involved

Example

Detective Vivek studied the fingerprints found on the stolen car.

detective + studies + evidence (fingerprints)

The young detective asked the shop owner what time the robbery happened.

detective + asks + witness — typical investigation verb

Common collocations
  • detective investigates
  • detective examines
  • detective questions
  • detective solves
  • detective arrests
Synonyms
  • investigator

    broader term — can be a detective, but also refers to other roles (insurance investigator, private investigator)

  • inspector

    often a specific rank in some police forces; more formal than 'detective'

Common Mistakes

The detective looked at the crime
The detective investigated the crime.
'look at' is too casual; 'investigate' or 'examine' are the expected verbs for professional work.

2. a word placed before a police rank such as Sergeant or Inspector to show the off

2.nounB1
Definition

a word placed before a police rank such as Sergeant or Inspector to show the officer works on investigating crimes

Example

Detective Sergeant Heloísa assigned each officer a different area of the city to check.

Detective Sergeant — specific rank title

The promotion to Detective Inspector meant a transfer to a larger station.

Common collocations
  • Detective Sergeant
  • Detective Inspector
  • Detective Constable
  • Detective Chief Inspector

Usage Note

Always appears before another rank word (Constable, Sergeant, Inspector, Chief Inspector) as part of a full title. The combination is usually capitalised when used as a named role.

Common Mistakes

He works as a detective sergeant for the city police.
He works as a Detective Sergeant for the city police.
When used as a formal title, both parts are capitalised.

3. a person who is paid by a client to find information about people, businesses, o

3.nounB1
Definition

a person who is paid by a client to find information about people, businesses, or personal matters, usually not working for the police

Example

The family hired a private detective to find their missing uncle.

private detective — common full phrase

Private detective Nia followed the man for three days to take photographs.

Common collocations
  • private detective
  • hire a detective
  • detective follows
  • detective investigates
  • detective charges
Synonyms

Usage Note

Often preceded by 'private' to distinguish from a police detective. In casual speech, 'private eye' or 'PI' are common alternatives.

Common Mistakes

The police hired a detective to follow the suspect.' (ambiguous — could be police detective or private detective)
The police assigned a detective to follow the suspect.' or 'The family hired a private detective.
'private' disambiguates the role.

detective — adjective

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe people who look into matters, but they differ in scope and formality. 'Detective' (noun/1) is the most specific term for a police officer whose job is to solve crimes through evidence and questioning. 'Investigator' is broader — it includes detectives but also refers to people who investigate insurance claims, workplace complaints, or scientific questions; it is not limited to criminal matters. 'Inspector' is a specific rank in some police forces (e.g., UK Detective Inspector) and is more formal; in everyday speech it often refers to someone who checks for compliance (e.g., building inspector). 'Sleuth' is informal and literary, used mostly in fiction or playful contexts. 'Officer' is a general term for any member of the police force — a detective is a type of officer, but not all officers are detectives. For example: 'The detective collected DNA samples from the scene.' vs. 'The insurance investigator reviewed the claim documents.' vs. 'Sherlock Holmes is everyone's favourite sleuth.'

investigator ↗inspector ↗sleuthofficer ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • detective work
  • detective story
  • detective novel
  • detective agency
  • detective skills

Phrases

  • police detective
  • private detective

Prepositions

  • detective with [the city police]
  • detective from [a department]
  • detective on [a case]

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'detective' comes from the Latin verb 'detegere', meaning 'to uncover' or 'to reveal'. 'Detegere' itself is formed from 'de-' (off, away) and 'tegere' (to cover). So a detective is literally 'one who uncovers'. The word entered English in the mid-1800s as police forces began creating specialised units for solving crimes.