- a police officer who investigates crimes
See private detective
- (as modifier): a detective story
- used in or serving for detection
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
de•tec•tive /dɪˈtɛktɪv/USA pronunciation
n.
adj. [before a noun]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- a police officer or a private investigator whose job is to get information and evidence about crime:detectives assigned to the case.
adj. [before a noun]
- of or relating to detection or detectives:enjoyed detective novels.
de•tec•tive
(di tek′tiv),USA pronunciation n.
adj.
- a member of the police force or a private investigator whose function is to obtain information and evidence, as of offenses against the law.
adj.
- of or pertaining to detection or detectives:a detective story.
- serving to detect;
detecting:various detective devices.
- detect + -ive 1830–40
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
detective /dɪˈtɛktɪv/ n
'police detective' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):