a police officer who investigates crimes
an investigator engaged or employed in obtaining information not easily available to the public
an officer of the police that performs criminal or administrative investigations, or a private person licensed to investigate information not readily available in public records (also called private eye)
an officer of the police who performs criminal or administrative investigations, in some police departments, the lowest rank among such investigators (above the lowest rank of officers and below sergeants)
a police officer, whose duty is to detect criminals, by in-depth investigation of cases
A person, usually a member of a police force, who investigates crimes and obtains evidence or information.
He is a private detective.
narrative about the solution of a mystery or the identification of a criminal. Elements can include the detective's use of logic in solving the mystery; incompetent or ineffectual police; a suspect who appears guilty at first but is later proved innocent; and the detective's friend or confidant. Edgar Allan Poe's "Murders in the Rue Morgue" is commonly regarded as the earliest example of this type of story. Other writers include Arthur Conan Doyle, Dashiell Hammett, and Agatha Christie.
A detective (also commonly called a dick or gumshoe) is an investigator, either a member of a police agency or a private person. Private detectives usually operate commercially and are licensed. They may be known as private investigators (P.I.s or "private eyes").