agent provocateur
[ ey-juh nt pruh-vok-uh-tur; French a-zhahn praw-vaw-ka-tœr ]
/ ˈeɪ dʒənt prəˌvɒk əˈtɜr; French a ʒɑ̃ prɔ vɔ kaˈtœr /
noun, plural a·gents pro·vo·ca·teurs [ey-juh nts pruh-vok-uh-tur; French a-zhahn praw-vaw-ka-tœr] /ˈeɪ dʒənts prəˌvɒk əˈtɜr; French a ʒɑ̃ prɔ vɔ kaˈtœr/.
a secret agent hired to incite suspected persons to some illegal action, outbreak, etc., that will make them liable to punishment.
Origin of agent provocateur
1875–80; < French: inciting agent; see
provocation,
-eur
Words nearby agent provocateur
agenosomia,
agent,
agent noun,
agent of production,
agent orange,
agent provocateur,
agent-general,
agential,
agentival,
agentive,
agentry
Example sentences from the Web for agent provocateur
That is why one was never sure that the stranger who denounced Rasputin and his friends was not an agent-provocateur.
The Minister of Evil |William Le Queux
British Dictionary definitions for agent provocateur
agent provocateur
/ French (aʒɑ̃ prɔvɔkatœr) /
noun plural agents provocateurs (aʒɑ̃ prɔvɔkatœr)
a secret agent employed to provoke suspected persons to commit illegal acts and so be discredited or liable to punishment