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Definition of investigator

investigator

/ɪnˈvɛstɪɡeɪtər/
in · ves · ti · ga · tor
Plural:investigators
•
Adjective:investigative
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investigator Lexical Profile

investigator Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A person whose occupation or official duty is to carry out a formal inquiry or systematic examination, especially into a crime, accident, or allegation of wrongdoing.

Example

"The federal investigator spent weeks reviewing financial records to trace the missing funds."

2

A scientist or academic researcher who conducts systematic empirical studies or clinical trials to discover new facts or test hypotheses.

Example

"As the principal investigator on the grant, she oversaw all phases of the clinical trial."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for investigator

• Rhymes for investigator

• Nearby Words

investigate
investigation
investigative
investigator
investigatory
investment
investor

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Latin investigator, meaning 'one who searches out or tracks,' from the verb investigare ('to trace out, track, or search into'), derived from vestigium ('footprint' or 'track').

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Investigator. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/investigator
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