a ‧ gent pro ‧ voc ‧ a ‧ teur /ˌæʒɒn prɒvɒkəˈtɜː $ ˌɑːʒɑːn proʊvɑːkəˈtɜːr/ BrE AmE noun ( plural agents provocateurs (same pronunciation) ) [countable]
[ Date: 1800-1900 ; Language: French ; Origin: 'provoking agent' ]
someone who is employed to encourage people who are working against a government to do something illegal so that they are caught