noun
sleuth
slooth
Sleuth (noun) means a detective, especially a skilled one who investigates crimes or mysteries. Example: “The amateur sleuth pieced together clues the police had missed.”
noun
1
A detective, especially a skilled one who investigates crimes or mysteries.
"The amateur sleuth pieced together clues the police had missed."
verb
1
To investigate or try to solve a mystery.
"She spent the weekend sleuthing around the old house for clues about its history."
"We must discover where he lives, what he does — sleuth him, in fact!"
— Agatha Christie, The Secret Adversary (1922)
How to use sleuth
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA detective, or the act of investigating something like one.
When to use it
Slightly old-fashioned or playful compared to plain "detective" or "investigate."
Common pairings
amateur sleuth
sleuth out the truth
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Word forms
- Plural
- sleuths
- Third person singular
- sleuths
- Past tense
- sleuthed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The amateur _____ pieced together clues the police had missed.
Etymology
A shortening of "sleuthhound," an old word for a bloodhound used to track people.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “sleuth” mean?
The word “sleuth” means a detective, especially a skilled one who investigates crimes or mysteries. In plain terms, a detective, or the act of investigating something like one.
How do you pronounce “sleuth”?
“Sleuth” is pronounced slooth (/sluːθ/ in IPA).
How do you use “sleuth” in a sentence?
Here is “sleuth” used in a sentence: “The amateur sleuth pieced together clues the police had missed.”
What part of speech is “sleuth”?
Depending on how it is used, “sleuth” can be a noun and a verb.
How many meanings does “sleuth” have?
“Sleuth” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a detective, especially a skilled one who investigates crimes or mysteries.
