private eye

noun
UK: /ˌpraɪ.vət ˈaɪ/
US: /ˌpraɪ.vət ˈaɪ/

  1. A detective who is not part of the police and is hired by people to find information.

    1. The private eye followed the suspect.
    2. She hired a private eye to investigate her husband's activities.

  2. A private investigator, often in a film or book, who solves mysteries for a living.

    1. The private eye accepted the case.
    2. In the movie, the private eye uncovered a complex web of deceit.

Synonyms

detective gumshoe investigator shamus private investigator

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "private eye" in English means: A detective who is not part of the police and is hired by people to find information., A private investigator, often in a film or book, who solves mysteries for a living..

The phonetic transcription of "private eye" is /ˌpraɪ.vət ˈaɪ/ in British English and /ˌpraɪ.vət ˈaɪ/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "private eye": detective, gumshoe, investigator, shamus, private investigator.

Example usage of "private eye": "The private eye followed the suspect.". More examples on the page.