informant

play

noun in·for·mant \ in-ˈfȯr-mənt \

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

The videos released by the court Wednesday were made by Downs and Scott Jurgensen, owner of Samson's Towing and the government's confidential informant in the case, prosecutors said.

— staff report, Post-Tribune, "Court releases videos of sheriff allegedly taking money that were played during his corruption trial," 16 Aug. 2017
Kentucky State Police has been sued this year for allegedly helping protect a suspect who was paying off a former Knox sheriff and and framing two cousins to protect an informant.

— darcy costello, The Courier-Journal, "Former Kentucky State Police detective accused of lying under oath about evidence," 11 Aug. 2017
Snipes told the judge police used confidential informants to obtain recordings of Sayyed pledging allegiance to ISIS and discussing his bombing plans.

— ashley remkus, AL.com, "Huntsville terrorism suspect wanted to carry out multiple attacks for ISIS, investigator testifies," 18 July 2017
Blazer became a vital informant against corrupt FIFA and CONCACAF officials not because of a late-in-life, Vaderesque epiphany, but because he'd been caught.

— brian straus, SI.com, "Chuck Blazer's trail of corruption, crime leaves U.S. colleagues facing his complex legacy," 13 July 2017
Kim appeared incredulous that prosecutors wanted Williams in custody but not the informant.

— gregory pratt, chicagotribune.com, "Judge scolds federal prosecutors but agrees to revoke bond in rifle case," 12 July 2017
The residence became a concern for detectives with the Multi-Enforcement Group after a confidential informant contacted them about possible heavy narcotics use and manufacturing of methamphetamine at the residence, according to the release.

— amy lavalley, Post-Tribune, "Man faces drug charges after suspected meth lab raid," 12 July 2017
According to an affidavit by Kraig Palmer, an investigator with the California Highway Patrol, the investigation was bolstered by a confidential informant who was a member of the Hooligans.

— cyrus farivar, Ars Technica, "Feds: Mexican motorcycle club used stolen key data to fuel massive Jeep heist," 1 July 2017
Luis Lauro Ramirez Bautista searched and funded the search for Juan Jesus Guerrero Chapa, a lawyer for a one-time leader of the Gulf drug cartel and an informant for the United States government.

— mitch mitchell, star-telegram, "Suspected money man arrested in connection with slaying of Southlake lawyer," 1 July 2017

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

informant Synonyms

Synonyms

betrayer, canary [slang], deep throat, fink, informer, nark [British], rat, rat fink, snitch, snitcher, squealer, stoolie, stool pigeon, talebearer, tattler, tattletale, telltale, whistle-blower

Related Words

collaborator; blabber, blabbermouth, gossip, gossiper, leaker; snoop, snooper, spy; notifier

INFORMANT Defined for English Language Learners

informant

play

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