noun
- a member of the police force or a private investigator whose function is to obtain information and evidence, as of offenses against the law.
adjective
- of or relating to detection or detectives: a detective story.
- serving to detect; detecting: various detective devices.
noun
-
- a police officer who investigates crimes
- See private detective
- (as modifier)a detective story
adjective
- used in or serving for detection
- serving to detect
1850, short for detective police, from detective (adj.), 1843; see detect + -ive.