Word
sleuth
US/ˈsɫuθ/
UK/slˈuːθ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a detective who solves crimes by looking for clues, often in books, films, or stories.
n. a private investigator or detective, especially one who solves crimes through careful observation and deduction.
Examples
“The young sleuth finds clues in the old house.”
“The amateur sleuth spends her weekends reviewing cold cases at the local library.”
“The weary sleuth pieced together decades-old letters, train tickets, and photographs to finally identify the missing heir.”
Examples
simple
“The young sleuth finds clues in the old house.”
contextual
“The amateur sleuth spends her weekends reviewing cold cases at the local library.”
complex
“The weary sleuth pieced together decades-old letters, train tickets, and photographs to finally identify the missing heir.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “sleuth” in context.
Verb
01. feature sleuth
“Each episode features a sleuth with a brilliant eye for detail.”
verb + noun
02. hire sleuth
“The family hired a sleuth to investigate the mysterious disappearance.”
verb + noun
03. play sleuth
“Journalists played sleuth to uncover the source of the leaked emails.”
verb + noun
04. portray sleuth
“She portrays a sleuth in the new Victorian crime series.”
verb + noun
Adjective
05. amateur sleuth
“The mystery features an amateur sleuth who solves crimes using online archives.”
adj + noun
06. fictional sleuth
“Sherlock Holmes remains the most famous fictional sleuth in English literature.”
adj + noun
07. intrepid sleuth
“The intrepid sleuth followed the clues across three continents.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. armchair sleuth
“An armchair sleuth could solve the puzzle without leaving the sofa.”
noun + noun
09. internet sleuth
“The internet sleuth traced the photo to a small cafe in Lisbon.”
noun + noun
10. a classic sleuth story
“This is a classic sleuth story with a clever final twist.”
11. hire a private sleuth
“They hired a private sleuth after the police closed the case.”
12. play amateur sleuth
“Online fans love to play amateur sleuth during the trial.”
Etymology
Clipping of sleuthhound.
From Old English slǣwþ, corresponding to slow + -th.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Related words
- 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
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/sleuth