private investigator

English Thesaurus

1. someone who can be employed as a detective to collect information (noun.person)

hypernym	:	detective,
definition	:	an investigator engaged or employed in obtaining information not easily available to the public (noun.person)

hyponym	:	hotel detective, house detective, house dick,
definition	:	a private detective employed by a hotel or retail store (noun.person)

hyponym	:	inquiry agent,
definition	:	a private detective (noun.person)

hyponym	:	store detective,
definition	:	a private detective employed by a merchant to stop pilferage (noun.person)