informant
noun
in·for·mant
in-ˈfȯr-mənt 
: a person who gives information: such as
a
: informer
b
: one who supplies cultural or linguistic data in response to interrogation by an investigator
Examples of informant in a Sentence
The police were alerted to the plot by a paid informant.
We learned the language with the help of a native informant.
Recent Examples on the Web
The suspect police were looking for, based on a tip from a confidential informant, was living in a different apartment, and was wearing a police tracking device while awaiting trial for a recent arrest.
—
Adam Harrington, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
The informant had Garner write down the name and address of the woman, along with where she was employed, which was passed on to sheriff’s investigators who confirmed the information was accurate.
—Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Shiwa Hassanpour, an activist with the human rights monitor Hengaw Organization, based in Iraq’s Kurdish region, said people have been shot for approaching the border, because Iranian forces suspect them of being spies or informants.
—ABC News, 30 Mar. 2026
The Weathermen and Panthers held meetings together and exchanged intel about government surveillance and police informants.
—Zayd Ayers Dohrn, New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for informant
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Adam Harrington, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
The informant had Garner write down the name and address of the woman, along with where she was employed, which was passed on to sheriff’s investigators who confirmed the information was accurate.
—Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Shiwa Hassanpour, an activist with the human rights monitor Hengaw Organization, based in Iraq’s Kurdish region, said people have been shot for approaching the border, because Iranian forces suspect them of being spies or informants.
—ABC News, 30 Mar. 2026
The Weathermen and Panthers held meetings together and exchanged intel about government surveillance and police informants.
—Zayd Ayers Dohrn, New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for informant
Cite this Entry
“Informant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/informant. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
informant
noun
in·for·mant
in-ˈfȯr-mənt
: informer
Legal Definition
informant
noun
in·for·mant
in-ˈfȯr-mənt
: one who informs against another
specifically
: one who makes a practice especially for money of informing police of others' criminal activities
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