Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

provocateur

/pɹəˌvɒkəˈtɜː(r)/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.48 in modern English

Syllables: provo-ca-teur
IPA: /pɹəˌvɒkəˈtɜː(r)/

18

Scrabble Score

11

Letters

3

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

One who engages in provocative behavior.

noun

An undercover agent who incites suspected persons to partake in or commit criminal acts.

Example Sentences

"Near-synonyms: provoker (sometimes synonymous), agitator"
"Gerard Mortier, an iconoclastic impresario and one of the opera world’s premier provocateurs, will become general manager and artistic director of the New York City Opera in 2009."
"Cannes is smacking its lips in anticipation of filmmaker and provocateur Michael Moore's latest jeremiad against the US administration, which receives its premiere at the film festival today."
"Near-synonyms: agitator, inciter"

Etymology

Borrowed from French provocateur. Doublet of provocator.

Inflected Forms

provocateurs (plural)

Frequently Paired Words

entrapment incitement

Synonyms

provocant provocator provoker agitator inciter agent provocateur

Questions

How do you pronounce provocateur?: The recorded pronunciation is /pɹəˌvɒkəˈtɜː(r)/.
What does provocateur mean?: One who engages in provocative behavior.
Where does provocateur come from?: Borrowed from French provocateur. Doublet of provocator.

How to pronounce provocateur

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “provocateur”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/pɹəˌvɒkəˈtɜː(r)/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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