Investigator — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /in-ˈve-stə-ˌgā-tər/ in·ves·ti·ga·tor

Meaning & Definition of Investigator

Investigator (noun)

  1. one who investigates something
  2. detective
  3. a person who conducts experiments or is involved in scientific studies for research

Investigator (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. one who observes or studies by close examination and systematic inquiry

    "investigators who discovered new evidence that the universe was much older than had been previously estimated"

    similar: experimenter, researcher
    related: monitor, observer, empiric, empiricist, fact finder, field-worker, examiner, inspector

  2. a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons

    "the investigator in charge of the case was touted as an expert at tracing stolen art"

    similar: detective, dick, gumshoe, hawkshaw, operative, private detective, private eye, private investigator, shamus (slang), sherlock, sleuth, sleuthhound
    related: shadow, tail, tracer, tracker, fed, Federal, G-man, narc (slang), plainclothesman

Related Entry: Investigate (verb)

Investigate is a different word from Investigator. The synonyms below are for investigate, not for investigator.

  1. to search through or into

    "experts investigating new ways of dealing with the problem"

    similar: delve (into), dig (into), examine, explore, inquire (into), look (into), probe, research, check into, check up on
    related: inspect, sift, study, view, browse, cruise, peruse, scan, skim (through), surf, thumb (through), reinvestigate

Related Entry: Private investigator (noun)

Private investigator is a different word from Investigator. The synonyms below are for private investigator, not for investigator.

  1. a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons

    "the retired policeman decided to become a private investigator"

    similar: detective, dick, gumshoe, hawkshaw, investigator, operative, private detective, private eye, shamus (slang), sherlock, sleuth, sleuthhound
    related: shadow, tail, tracer, tracker, fed, Federal, G-man, narc (slang), plainclothesman

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Investigator

The most common words with a similar meaning to Investigator:

Slang: shamus
experimenter, researcher, detective, dick, gumshoe, hawkshaw, operative, private detective, private eye, private investigator, sherlock, sleuth, sleuthhound

Related Words for Investigator

monitor, observer, empiric, empiricist, fact finder, field-worker, examiner, inspector, shadow, tail, tracer, tracker, fed, Federal, G-man, narc, plainclothesman

Word Forms of Investigator

Inflections: investigators

Origin & Etymology of Investigator

First known use: 1538

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Investigator

Words & Phrases Containing Investigator

private investigator, coinvestigator

Frequently Asked Questions about Investigator

What does "Investigator" mean?

"Investigator" means one who investigates something. As a noun, it is defined as: one who investigates something. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Investigator"?

Other words for "Investigator" include experimenter, researcher, detective, dick, gumshoe, hawkshaw, operative and private detective. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Investigator" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Investigator"?

There are 31 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Investigator". Common alternatives include experimenter, researcher, detective, dick, gumshoe, hawkshaw, operative, private detective, private eye and private investigator.

How do you use "Investigator" in a sentence?

Examples of "Investigator" in a sentence: "investigators who discovered new evidence that the universe was much older than had been previously estimated"; "the investigator in charge of the case was touted as an expert at tracing stolen art".

Is "Investigator" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Investigator" is a noun.

Is "Investigator" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Investigator" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Investigator"?

"Investigator" is pronounced /in-ˈve-stə-ˌgā-tər/ and divided into syllables as in·ves·ti·ga·tor.

What is the origin of the word "Investigator"?

First known use: 1538.