private detective

English edit

Noun edit

private detective (plural private detectives)

  1. Any agent hired by a private party for the purpose of investigation or evidence gathering.
    • 1946, The Big Sleep (motion picture), spoken by Vivian (Lauren Bacall):
      So you're a private detective? I didn't know they existed, except in books, or else they were greasy little men snooping around hotel corridors.

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