Private detectives — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun

Meaning & Definition of Private detectives

Private detectives (noun)

  1. private investigator

Private detectives (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

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

    "when the police insisted that it was an accident and not murder, she hired a private detective"

    similar: detectives, dicks, gumshoes, hawkshaws, investigators, operatives, private eyes, private investigators, shamuses (slang), sherlocks, sleuthhounds, sleuths
    related: shadows, tails, tracers, trackers, Federals, feds, G-men, narcs (slang), plainclothesmen

Related Entry: Private detective (noun)

Private detective is a different word from Private detectives. The synonyms below are for private detective, not for private detectives.

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

    "when the police insisted that it was an accident and not murder, she hired a private detective"

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

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Private detectives

The most common words with a similar meaning to Private detectives:

Slang: shamuses
detectives, dicks, gumshoes, hawkshaws, investigators, operatives, private eyes, private investigators, sherlocks, sleuthhounds, sleuths

Related Words for Private detectives

shadows, tails, tracers, trackers, Federals, feds, G-men, narcs, plainclothesmen

Origin & Etymology of Private detectives

First known use: 1861

Frequently Asked Questions about Private detectives

What does "Private detectives" mean?

"Private detectives" means private investigator. As a noun, it is defined as: private investigator.

What is another word for "Private detectives"?

Other words for "Private detectives" include detectives, dicks, gumshoes, hawkshaws, investigators, operatives, private eyes and private investigators. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Private detectives" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Private detectives"?

There are 21 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Private detectives". Common alternatives include detectives, dicks, gumshoes, hawkshaws, investigators, operatives, private eyes, private investigators, shamuses and sherlocks.

How do you use "Private detectives" in a sentence?

Examples of "Private detectives" in a sentence: "when the police insisted that it was an accident and not murder, she hired a private detective".

Is "Private detectives" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Private detectives" is a noun.

What is the origin of the word "Private detectives"?

First known use: 1861.

What is another word for "Private detectives" meaning "a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons"?

When "Private detectives" (noun) means a person not on the police force who investigates criminal or illicit activity or searches for missing persons, synonyms include detectives, dicks, gumshoes, hawkshaws, investigators and operatives.

What words are related to "Private detectives"?

Words related to "Private detectives" include shadows, tails, tracers, trackers, Federals, feds, G-men and narcs.