detective

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

What Lily couldn’t have foreseen, of course, was that her amateur detective skills would become necessary when, one day, George is found dead, and the investigation by a bumbling local policeman isn’t up to snuff.

From Salon • May 25, 2026

Louise Penny is the author of a long-running series following Armand Gamache, a French-Canadian police detective.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

The tail-wagging detective with a "joyful and goofy" personality retired with an extensive list of accolades -- including an Animal of the Year award and Puppy Tales Photos Australian Dog of the Year award.

From Barron's • May 20, 2026

“I’ve been a lawyer 45 years — never had I heard of a detective from the Robbery-Homicide Division taking the 5th Amendment in a murder trial,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026

Because the last thing a detective should do is make a complete spectacle of herself.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan