detective work

noun

Investigative research.

“We did some detective work and found out that the water was getting in through a cracked pipe.”

Similar
detectivingsleuthworkdetectiondetectingsleuthing
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Meanings

noundetective work (uncountable)
  1. idiomaticuncountableInvestigative research.

    We did some detective work and found out that the water was getting in through a cracked pipe.

    Synonyms: detectiving, sleuthwork

Synonyms & antonyms

nounInvestigative research.

Similar
detectivingsleuthwork

More synonyms by meaning

nouna police investigation to determine the perpetrator

Similar
detectiondetectingsleuthing
Broader
police workpolice investigation
Also see
detectingdetectionsleuthing

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

Danish detektivarbejde
  • detektivarbejdeinvestigative research
Esperanto detektivado
  • detektivadoinvestigative research
German Detektivarbeit
  • Detektivarbeitinvestigative research
Norwegian Bokmål detektivarbeid
  • detektivarbeidinvestigative research
Cite this entry
APA

detective work. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/detective%20work

MLA

“detective work.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/detective%20work. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “detective work,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/detective%20work.

Source: detective work on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.