Word
investigator
Phoneticsin·ves·ti·ga·tor, stress on the second syllable
US/ˌɪnˈvɛstəˌɡeɪtɝ/
UK/ɪnvˈɛstɪɡˌeɪtɐ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a person whose job is to find out the truth about something, like a crime or a scientific problem. They look for clues and ask questions to solve a mystery.
n. a person who carries out a formal inquiry or systematic examination to uncover facts or determine the cause of an event. Often used in legal, scientific, or journalistic contexts.
Examples
“The lead investigator found a new clue at the scene.”
“The insurance company sent an investigator to check the damage before paying for the repairs.”
“Following the sudden collapse of the bridge, a federal investigator was appointed to determine whether the failure was due to poor maintenance or a structural design flaw.”
Examples
simple
“The lead investigator found a new clue at the scene.”
contextual
“The insurance company sent an investigator to check the damage before paying for the repairs.”
complex
“Following the sudden collapse of the bridge, a federal investigator was appointed to determine whether the failure was due to poor maintenance or a structural design flaw.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “investigator” in context.
Adjective
01. principal investigator
“Dr. Smith was appointed as the principal investigator for the new clinical trial.”
adj + noun
Usage
Commonly modified by adjectives like 'lead', 'private', or 'principal' to specify the person's rank or field.
Real-World Examples
“A preliminary report by US investigators says an engine fan blade broke on last month's flight from Greece to Germany.” “Broken engine parts were responsible for shattering a window on a Ryanair plane, causing a passenger to be partly sucked out mid-flight in July, US investigators have said.” “A shattered window through which a passenger was partially sucked out during a Ryanair flight last month was caused by broken engine parts, US investigators have said.” Etymology
Attested in the mid‐16th century; from Latin investigator, from investigare, equivalent to investigate + -or.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/investigator