private investigatorˌprivate inˈvestigator noun [countable] 
Examples
ExamplesEXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
Thesaurus- The Twiggs hired a private investigator to find their real daughter.
Longman Language Activatorsomeone whose job is to find out about something► investigator
a private detective someone whose job it is to find out about situations, crimes, problems etc in order to explain them: · A team of special investigators have gone to the scene of the explosion.· The investigator has concluded that they were making a false insurance claim.
► private investigator/private detective someone who people pay to find out about such things as a person's disappearance, someone's secret activities etc, but who does not work for the police: · She hired a private detective to find her husband.· A private investigator had been engaged to watch Mr Hart and report on his activities.
► detective a police officer whose job is to find out the facts about crimes and who is responsible for them: · I'm a detective with the Los Angeles Police Department. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?· Detectives made a TV appeal for anyone with any information about the crime to contact them.
WORD SETS► Occupationsaccountant, nounactuary, nounadministrator, nounadviser, nounadvocate, nounamanuensis, nounarchivist, nounarmourer, nounauctioneer, nounaudiotypist, nounbackroom boy, nounbailiff, nounbaker, nounbanker, nounbarber, nounbargee, nounbarkeeper, nounbarker, nounbarmaid, nounbarman, nounbartender, nounbeachcomber, nounbeadle, nounbellboy, nounbellhop, nounbiographer, nounblacksmith, nounboatman, nounboatswain, nounbodyguard, nounboffin, nounbombardier, nounbookseller, nounboss, nounbotanist, nounbouncer, nounbreeder, nounbricklayer, nounbuckaroo, nounbuilder, nounbureaucrat, nounbutcher, nounbutler, nounbuyer, nouncabin boy, nouncabinet-maker, nouncareer counselor, nouncareers officer, nouncaretaker, nouncarpenter, nouncarter, nouncashier, nouncaterer, nounCEO, nouncertified public accountant, nounchairman, nounchambermaid, nounchandler, nounchar, nouncharlady, nouncharwoman, nounchef, nounchief executive officer, nounchief of staff, nounchildminder, nounchimney sweep, nouncleaner, nounclerk, nounclothier, nounclown, nouncoastguard, nouncobbler, nouncocktail waitress, nouncollier, nouncomedian, nouncomedienne, nouncomic, nouncommercial traveller, nouncommissionaire, nouncompositor, nounconcierge, nounconfectioner, nounconsultant, nouncook, nouncooper, nouncopy editor, nouncopywriter, nouncorrespondent, nouncostermonger, nouncounsellor, nouncourier, nouncowboy, nouncowgirl, nouncowhand, nouncowpoke, nounCPA, nouncraftsman, nouncrew, nouncrewman, nouncrofter, nouncroupier, nouncurator, nouncustodian, noundaily, noundairymaid, noundairyman, noundelivery man, noundesigner, noundesk clerk, noundetective, noundick, noundietician, noundinner lady, noundisc jockey, noundispatch rider, noundistrict nurse, noundiver, nounDJ, noundocent, noundocker, noundogcatcher, noundog warden, noundomestic, noundomestic service, noundoorkeeper, noundoorman, noundowser, noundramatist, noundraper, noundraughtsman, noundressmaker, noundriver, noundrover, noundruggist, noundustbin man, noundustman, nouneducationalist, nouneducator, nounelectrician, nounengineer, nounescort, nounessayist, nounestate agent, nounexecutive, nounfarmer, nounfarmhand, nounfarrier, nounfire chief, nounfirefighter, nounfireman, nounfirst mate, nounfirst officer, nounfishmonger, nounfitter, nounflorist, nounflower girl, nounforeman, nounforewoman, nounfrogman, nounfruiterer, nounfunctionary, nounfuneral director, nounfurrier, noungaffer, noungamekeeper, noungarbage collector, noungarbage man, noungardener, noungatekeeper, noungaucho, noungendarme, nounghost writer, nounglazier, noungoatherd, noungoldsmith, noungondolier, noungoverness, noungovernor, noungravedigger, noungreengrocer, noungrip, noungrocer, noungroom, noungroundsman, nounground staff, nounguard, nounguest worker, nounguide, noungunner, noungunsmith, nounhack, nounhandler, nounhandmaiden, nounhandyman, nounhangman, nounharvester, nounhatter, nounhawker, nounheadhunter, nounhead teacher, nounhelper, nounherald, nounherbalist, nounherdsman, nounhired hand, nounhireling, nounhistorian, nounhomemaker, nounhomeworker, nounhouse husband, nounhousewife, nouniceman, nounillustrator, nounimpersonator, nounimpresario, nounindustrialist, nouninnkeeper, nouninspector, nouninterior decorator, nouninterpreter, nouninvestigator, nounjanitor, nounjester, nounjeweller, nounjoiner, nounjourno, nounJP, nounjudge, nounkeeper, nounlamplighter, nounlandlady, nounlandlord, nounlibrarian, nounlocksmith, nounlongshoreman, nounmagician, nounmaid, nounmaid of honour, nounmaidservant, nounmail carrier, nounmailman, nounmaitre d', nounmajordomo, nounman, nounmanagement consultant, nounmanservant, nounmason, nounmasseur, nounmasseuse, nounmatador, nounmathematician, nounmechanic, nounmedic, nounmenial, adjectivemenial, nounmerchant seaman, nounmidwife, nounmilkmaid, nounmilkman, nounmilliner, nounminder, nounminer, nounminiaturist, nounminister, nounmodel, nounmortician, nounmover, nounmovie star, nounnanny, nounnavvy, nounnewscaster, nounnewsreader, nounnight porter, nounnight watchman, nounnovelist, nounnumber cruncher, nounnurse, nounnursemaid, nounnurseryman, nounnursery nurse, nounnursing, nounobstetrician, nounoccupation, nounodd-job man, nounoilman, nounold salt, nounoptician, nounostler, nounpacker, nounpaediatrician, nounpaediatrics, nounpageboy, nounpainter, nounpalmist, nounpaperboy, nounpaper girl, nounpaper-pusher, nounparachutist, nounparalegal, nounparamedic, nounpark keeper, nounparliamentarian, nounpathology, nounpawnbroker, nounpeasant, nounpedlar, nounpen pusher, nounpensioner, nounperformer, nounpersonal assistant, nounpharmacist, nounphotographer, nounpipe fitter, nounplanter, nounplasterer, nounplaywright, nounploughman, nounplumber, nounpoet, nounpolice, nounporter, nounpostman, nounpotter, nounpractitioner, nounprinter, nounprivate detective, nounprivate eye, nounprivate investigator, nounprivate practice, nounprivate secretary, nounpro, nounpro, adjectiveprobation officer, nounprofession, nounprofessional, adjectiveprofessional, nounprofessionally, adverbprogrammer, nounproperty developer, nounprostitute, nounpsychiatrist, nounpsychiatry, nounpsychoanalyst, nounpublican, nounpublic defender, nounpublicist, nounpublic prosecutor, nounpublic relations, nounpublisher, nounpurser, nounquantity surveyor, nounquestion master, nounrabbi, nounradiographer, nounradiologist, nounrag-and-bone-man, nounrancher, nounranger, nounreal estate agent, nounreceptionist, nounrecruit, nounrector, nounregistrar, nounrepo man, nounreporter, nounrestaurateur, nounretailer, nounreviewer, nounroadie, nounroad manager, nounrookie, nounroughneck, nounroustabout, nounsailor, nounsalesclerk, nounsalesgirl, nounsalesman, nounsalesperson, nounsales representative, nounsaleswoman, nounsanitation worker, nounscalper, nounschoolmaster, nounschoolmistress, nounschoolteacher, nounscout, nounscout, verbscrew, nounscribe, nounscrubber, nounsea captain, nounseaman, nounseamstress, nounsecretary, nounsecurity guard, nounsemi-professional, adjectiveservant, nounshepherd, nounshepherdess, nounship's chandler, nounshipwright, nounshoemaker, nounshopkeeper, nounsilversmith, nounsmith, nounsoldier, nounsoldier of fortune, nounspaceman, nounspiv, nounstallholder, nounstationer, nounsteeplejack, nounsteersman, nounsteno, nounstenographer, nounstevedore, nounstockbroker, nounstoker, nounstorekeeper, nounstraight man, nounstringer, nounstructural engineer, nounstylist, nounsubmariner, nounsuperintendent, nounsurveyor, nounsweep, nounswineherd, nountailor, nountanner, nountaster, nountattooist, nountaxidermist, nounteamster, nountelecommuter, nounteller, nountemp, nountemp, verbtinker, nountobacconist, nountown crier, nountrade, nountradesman, nountraffic warden, nountranslator, nountrapper, nountravel agent, nountravelling salesman, nountreasurer, nountroubleshooter, nountrucker, nounturner, nountypist, nountypographer, nounundertaker, noununderwriter, nounusher, nounusherette, nounusurer, nounvalet, nounvaluer, nounvice-president, nounvideo jockey, nounvillein, nounvintner, nounvocation, nounvocational, adjectivewaiter, nounwaitress, nounwallah, nounwarden, nounwarder, nounwasherwoman, nounwatchmaker, nounwatchman, nounweaver, nounwelder, nounwhaler, nounwheelwright, nounwindow cleaner, nounwindow dresser, nounwoodcutter, nounwoodsman, nounworkman, nounWPC, nounwrangler, nounwriter, nounyeoman, nounzoo-keeper, noun