sleuth
sleuth Lexical Profile
sleuth Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A person who investigates crimes or mysteries; a detective.
"The amateur sleuth spent weeks combing through public records to solve the decades-old mystery."
A collective group of bears.
"The wildlife photographer patiently waited on the ridge to capture an image of a sleuth of black bears foraging for berries."
A hound used for tracking by scent; a bloodhound or sleuthhound.
"In medieval times, border wardens relied on the keen nose of a trained sleuth to follow raiders across the hills."
• verb
To carry out a search or investigation in the manner of a detective.
"Journalists sleuthed through corporate filings to uncover the hidden financial transactions."
• Rhymes for sleuth
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Originally a Middle English word meaning "a track or trail" (from Old Norse slóð), the modern sense of "detective" arose in the 19th century as a shortening of sleuthhound, a type of bloodhound used in Scotland to track fugitives.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.