noun

detective

detective, investigator

A police detective questioned the witness.

A police detective questioned the witness.

She hired a private detective to find him.

She hired a private detective to find him.

a person who investigates crimes A police detective questioned the witness.

Synonyms: investigator, private eye, sleuth

From the verb 'detect' + '-ive', a suffix forming nouns for people who perform an action. A person who detects.

Think of famous detectives like Sherlock Holmes. They 'detect' clues.

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