Detective is defined as someone hired to investigate and solve crimes.
(noun)An example of a detective is a law enforcement officer investigating a kidnapping.
The definition of detective is something related to investigating a crime or is used for detecting or finding something.
(adjective)An example of detective is examination of a crime; detective investigation.
See detective in Webster's New World College Dictionary
adjective
noun
Origin: short for detective policeman
a person on a police force, whose work is investigating and trying to solve crimesOrigin: short for private detective
a person working privately to investigate crimes, gather information, etc.See detective in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
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