provocateur

/prəˌvɒkəˈtɜr/

Other forms: provocateurs

A provocateur is a person who deliberately does things to provoke a specific reaction, argument, or change. For example, in art or cinema, a provocateur might create shocking works to challenge social norms.

In police work, provocateur is short for agent provocateur, meaning "a person hired to make trouble." The provocateur could be an undercover police officer trying to catch a known criminal in the act of committing a crime so that officers can swoop in and make an arrest. At home, a provocateur is that family member who deliberately starts a heated debate at the dinner table every Thanksgiving. A political provocateur may try to discredit the opposing side by provoking someone into saying or doing something controversial.

Definitions of provocateur

1. noun

   a secret agent who incites suspected persons to commit illegal acts
   synonyms: agent provocateur

   type of:

   intelligence agent, intelligence officer, operative, secret agent

   a person secretly employed in espionage for a government
2. noun

   one who stirs up strong feelings or reaction in others