agent provocateur
noun | /agent provocateur/
Foreign Words & PhrasesFrenchHARD
a person who incites others to commit illegal acts so they can be arrested or discredited
Literal meaning:
"provoking agent"
agent provocateur
noun | /agent provocateur/
Foreign Words & PhrasesFrenchHARDa person who incites others to commit illegal acts so they can be arrested or discredited
Literal meaning:
"provoking agent"
Learning Progress
Examples
"Authorities suspected an agent provocateur had infiltrated the rally."
"The scandal revealed an agent provocateur trying to provoke violence."
Mnemonic Trick
Agent that provokes → stirs trouble to catch people out
Source: Foreign Words & PhrasesAdded: 9/28/2025
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