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agent provocateur

a·gent pro·vo·ca·teur
A a

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [ey-juh nt pruh-vok-uh-tur, -too r]
    • /ˈeɪ dʒənt prəˌvɒk əˈtɜr, -ˈtʊər/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [ey-juh nt pruh-vok-uh-tur, -too r]
    • /ˈeɪ dʒənt prəˌvɒk əˈtɜr, -ˈtʊər/

Definitions of agent provocateur words

  • countable noun agent provocateur An agent provocateur is a person who is employed by the government or the police to encourage certain groups of people to break the law, so they can arrest them or make them lose public support. 3
  • noun agent provocateur a secret agent employed to provoke suspected persons to commit illegal acts and so be discredited or liable to punishment 3
  • noun agent provocateur a person hired to join a labor union, political party, etc. in order to incite its members to actions that will make them or their organization liable to penalty 3
  • noun agent provocateur a secret agent of a foreign nation, esp. one who incites citizens to rebellion, illegal acts, etc. 3
  • noun plural agent provocateur a secret agent hired to incite suspected persons to some illegal action, outbreak, etc., that will make them liable to punishment. 1
  • noun agent provocateur A person who secretly disrupts a group's activities from within the group; an instigator, troublemaker. 0
See all 6 definitions of agent provocateur

Information block about the term

Origin of agent provocateur

First appearance:

before 1875
One of the 25% newest English words
1875-80; < French: inciting agent; see provocation, -eur

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Agent provocateur

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Full grammatical hierarchy of Agent provocateur

agent provocateur popularity

This term is known only to a narrow circle of people with rare knowledge. Only 2% of English native speakers know the meaning of this word.
According to our data most of word are more popular. This word is almost not used. It has a much more popular synonym.

agent provocateur usage trend in Literature

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Synonyms for agent provocateur

noun agent provocateur

  • agitator — If you describe someone involved in politics as an agitator, you disapprove of them because of the trouble they cause in organizing campaigns and protests.
  • firebrand — a piece of burning wood or other material.
  • goad — a stick with a pointed or electrically charged end, for driving cattle, oxen, etc.; prod.
  • incendiary — used or adapted for setting property on fire: incendiary bombs.
  • instigator — to cause by incitement; foment: to instigate a quarrel.
All 15 Synonyms of agent provocateur

See also

Matching words

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