agent provocateur

noun agent pro·vo·ca·teur \ˈä-ˌzhäⁿ-prō-ˌvä-kə-ˈtər, ˈā-jənt-\

: a person employed to encourage people to break the law so that they can be arrested

plural agents provocateurs \ˈä-ˌzhäⁿ-prō-ˌvä-kə-ˈtər, ˈā-jən(t)s-prō-\

Full Definition of AGENT PROVOCATEUR

: one employed to associate with suspected persons and by pretending sympathy with their aims to incite them to some incriminating action

See agent provocateur defined for English-language learners

French, literally, provoking agent

First Known Use: 1877

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