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Definition of sherlock

sherlock

/ˈʃɜːr.lɑːk/
sher · lock
Plural:sherlocks
•
Past Simple:sherlocked
•
Past Participle:sherlocked
•
Present Participle:sherlocking
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sherlock Lexical Profile

sherlock Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A person who investigates mysteries or shows keen powers of deduction, or (used sarcastically) someone who states the obvious.

Example

"The amateur sherlock spent all weekend piecing together clues from the old family letters."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for sherlock

• verb

1

To investigate, deduce, or search for information like a detective (informal).

Example

"She managed to sherlock the surprise party details just by noticing a few misplaced receipts."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for sherlock
Antonyms
View all antonyms for sherlock

Word Nuance & Usage

As a noun, 'Sherlock' is commonly used sarcastically (as in 'No kidding, Sherlock') to mock someone who has just stated something painfully obvious.

• Nearby Words

shepherdia
sherbet
sheriff
sherlock
sherpa
sherried
sherry

Word Origin & Etymology

Eponymously derived from Sherlock Holmes, the brilliant fictional London detective created by British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in his 1887 novel A Study in Scarlet.

Cite this Entry

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