informant

noun in·for·mant \ in-ˈfȯr-mənt \

|Updated on: 21 Jul 2018

Examples: informant in a Sentence

Definition of informant

: a person who gives information: such as

a : informer

b : one who supplies cultural or linguistic data in response to interrogation by an investigator

See informant defined for English-language learners

See informant defined for kids

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 of informant from the Web

In hopes of capturing them, the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department set up a fake drug buy, with the help of a confidential informant.

— jane ford-stewart, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "West Allis man get 6 years in prison for selling heroin that killed 20-year-old," 11 July 2018
At times, police have falsely claimed that information gathered from a stingray has instead come from a confidential informant.

— cyrus farivar, Ars Technica, "Judge slams Tacoma for not releasing stingray records," 1 July 2018
The shootout occurred after two undercover ATF agents went with a confidential informant to a house on Kentucky Avenue with the intention to purchase firearms, Kirsch said.

— becky jacobs, Post-Tribune, "Charges filed in ambush on ATF agent in Gary; one suspect on the run, officials say," 8 June 2018
The Justice Department will provide lawmakers more access to some secret documents detailing the government’s use of a confidential informant during a counterintelligence investigation into Russian contacts with Donald Trump’s presidential campaign.

— billy house, Bloomberg.com, "Secret FBI Documents on Trump Informant to Be Shown to Lawmakers," 7 June 2018
There was the case of Julio Cesar Perez-Madrigal, who was indicted on multiple charges regarding drugs and guns, which were supposedly purchased by a confidential informant.

— michael harriot, The Root, "‘Evilest White Woman on Earth’: The Criminal Injustice of Terra Morehead," 6 June 2018
Higgins, a graduate of Cardinal Dougherty High School, in Northeast Philadelphia, had also been accused of tipping off dealers about confidential police informants.

— Philly.com, "Onetime top Pa. prosecutor pleads guilty to corruption," 30 May 2018
Attempts to purchase alcohol by a 19-year-old informant were made at 15 retail establishments in the city.

— brian lisik/special to cleveland.com, cleveland.com, "Four businesses cited for underage alcohol sales: Avon Police Blotter," 14 May 2018
Franklin testified about giving Lockhart's grandson Daniel $500 to work as a confidential informant and provide evidence to the sheriff's office.

— ashley remkus, AL.com, "'They lied to us:' Investigator says sheriff's office was untruthful in probe of warden, blogger," 20 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'informant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of informant

1641

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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informant Synonyms

Synonyms

betrayer, informer, rat, snitch, snitcher, squealer, stool pigeon, talebearer, tattler, tattletale, telltale;

Related Words

collaborator;

blabber, blabbermouth, gossip, gossiper, leaker;

snoop, snooper, spy;

notifier;

INFORMANT Defined for English Language Learners

informant

noun

Definition of informant for English Language Learners

: a person who gives information to the police about secret or criminal activities
: a person who gives information about his or her culture or language to a researcher