Investigators: meaning, definitions and examples

General term for individuals who carry out detailed examinations or inquiries to discover facts, often used in various fields like science, private industry, or law enforcement.

• The investigators are trying to determine the cause of the fire.
• Research investigators have found a new way to treat the disease.

Typically used to describe police officers or private individuals who solve crimes by gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses.

• The detectives found a crucial clue at the crime scene.
• Private detectives are often hired to investigate infidelity cases.

Refers to officials who examine things like equipment, establishments, and organizations to ensure compliance with regulations, often used in regulatory and law enforcement contexts.

• Building inspectors must approve the construction before it can be used.
• Health inspectors closed the restaurant due to unsanitary conditions.

An informal and often playful or literary term for individuals who investigate and solve mysteries, typically associated with amateur detectives or in fiction.

• The kids acted like sleuths, trying to solve the mystery of the missing cat.
• In the novel, the sleuth uncovers a hidden conspiracy.

Use when referring to people who are actively looking into specific cases, situations, or events, especially in criminal, legal, or journalistic contexts.

• The investigators are still gathering evidence from the crime scene.
• Private investigators were hired to find the missing person.

Typically used for individuals conducting systematic investigations to establish facts or principles, often in academic, scientific, or market research contexts.

• The researchers are conducting a study on climate change.
• Medical researchers are working on a new vaccine.

Used for individuals engaged in systematic activities to acquire knowledge and understanding about the natural and physical world through observation and experimentation.

• Scientists have discovered a new species of bird.
• The scientists are analyzing the chemical properties of the substance.

Refers to people who have extensive knowledge and learning in a specific field, often associated with academic study and intellectual pursuits. It has a formal tone.

• She is a renowned Shakespearean scholar.
• The scholars debated the interpretation of ancient texts.