noun

shamus

SHAH-muhs

Shamus (noun) means informal American slang for a private detective. Example: “The old crime novel followed a hard-boiled shamus around 1940s Los Angeles.”

noun

Informal American slang for a private detective.

"The old crime novel followed a hard-boiled shamus around 1940s Los Angeles."

How to use shamus

Learner’s notes

When to use it

Old-fashioned, mostly seen in detective fiction and film noir rather than everyday speech.

Word forms

shamuses plural, shami plural

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The old crime novel followed a hard-boiled _____ around 1940s Los Angeles.

Etymology

American slang, said to come from the Irish name Seamus, reflecting how many early American police officers were Irish immigrants.

Origin: Irish

Synonyms

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operative PI sherlock private eye private detective private investigator

Related words

operation operate worker detective spy functioning surgical operative

Rhymes for shamus

Camus Seamus Pyramus ignoramus Nostradamus hippopotamus hypothalamus

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Frequently asked questions

What does “shamus” mean?

The word “shamus” means informal American slang for a private detective.

How do you pronounce “shamus”?

“Shamus” is pronounced SHAH-muhs (/ˈʃɑːməs/ in IPA).

How do you use “shamus” in a sentence?

Here is “shamus” used in a sentence: “The old crime novel followed a hard-boiled shamus around 1940s Los Angeles.”

What part of speech is “shamus”?

“Shamus” is a noun.

Where does the word “shamus” come from?

The word “shamus” comes from Irish. American slang, said to come from the Irish name Seamus, reflecting how many early American police officers were Irish immigrants.

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Words with Celtic origins

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