What does "detective" mean?
A police officer tasked with collecting evidence and information in order to solve a crime; an investigator.
Detective
/dɪˈtɛktɪv/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A police officer tasked with collecting evidence and information in order to solve a crime; an investigator.
- Grammar: detective is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: investigator, sleuth, 'tec, asker.
- Useful contrasts: criminal, culprit, highwaymen.
- Usage evidence: Holmes is a great pipe man as well as a great detective.
How to use "detective"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "detective" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "detective" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "detective" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "detective" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "detective" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "investigator" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "detective", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A police officer tasked with collecting evidence and information in order to solve a crime; an investigator.
"He worked as a detective with the agency for five years."
- 2 a police officer who investigates crimes wordnet
- 3 A person employed to find information not otherwise available to the public.
"[…] Sherlock Holmes remarked calmly. […] "Well, I have a trade of my own. I suppose I am the only one in the world. I'm a consulting detective, if you can understand what that is. Here in London we have lots of Government detectives and lots of private ones. When these fellows are at fault they come to me, and I manage to put them on the right scent. They lay all the evidence before me, and I am generally able, by the help of my knowledge of the history of crime, to set them straight. There is a strong family resemblance about misdeeds, and if you have all the details of a thousand at your finger ends, it is odd if you can't unravel the thousand and first.[…]""
- 4 an investigator engaged or employed in obtaining information not easily available to the public wordnet
Adjective
- 1 Employed in detecting. not-comparable
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Holmes is a great pipe man as well as a great detective."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "detective"?
Common synonyms include: investigator, sleuth, 'tec, asker, bailiff, beadle.
How do you use "detective" in a sentence?
Holmes is a great pipe man as well as a great detective.
How do you pronounce "detective"?
Pronounced /dɪˈtɛktɪv/.
Etymology
The adjective is from Classical Latin dētēct-, past participial stem of dētegō (“to detect”), + -ive. The noun is an ellipsis of detective policeman, detective officer, or a similar construction.