provocateur

Borrowed from French provocateur. Doublet of provocator.

provocateur (plural provocateurs)

1. One who engages in provocative behavior.
   • 2007, February 28, “Daniel J. Wakin”, in City Opera Lures Director From Paris‎:

     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.

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

Borrowed from Latin provocator. See provoquer, -ateur.

• IPA^(key): /pʁɔ.vɔ.ka.tœʁ/

provocateur (feminine singular provocatrice, masculine plural provocateurs, feminine plural provocatrices)

1. provocative, inflammatory

   Synonym: provocant

provocateur m (plural provocateurs, feminine provocatrice)

1. provocateur, provoker; one who provokes

• provoquer

• “provocateur” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).