peeper

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

A private detective.

Register: dated, derogatory, slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

So you go to see this peeper, this Marlowe. That was your mistake.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “peeper” mean?

A private detective.

Is “peeper” formal or informal?

peeper is generally dated, derogatory, slang.