/ ˌæʒɒ͂ prəˌvɒkəˈtɜː(r); NAmE ˌɑːʒɑ͂ː proʊˌvɑːkəˈtɜːr/ (also pro·voca·teur ) noun
( pl. agents pro·voca·teurs / ˌæʒɒ͂ prəˌvɒkəˈtɜː(r); NAmE ˌɑːʒɑ͂ː proʊˌvɑːkəˈtɜːr/) (from French ) a person who is employed by a government to encourage people in political groups to do sth illegal so that they can be arrested
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WORD ORIGIN
late 19th cent.: French , literally provocative agent .