informant

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

Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about informant

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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

In a subsequent investigation, police accused Goines of lying in a search warrant about having a confidential informant buying heroin at the home. — Fox News, "Ex-Houston police officer charged with felony murder in deadly drug raid," 24 Aug. 2019 Former officer Gerald Goines, who was shot in the ensuing gunfight during the Jan. 28 raid, is charged with felony murder after police accused him of lying in a search warrant about having a confidential informant buying heroin at the home. — Washington Post, "Special prosecutor will probe why the case against Jussie Smollett was dropped," 24 Aug. 2019 He was charged with two counts of felony murder after police accused him of lying in a search warrant about having a confidential informant buying heroin at the home. — CBS News, "Ex-Houston police officer charged with murder over deadly drug raid," 23 Aug. 2019 Liu said Masters’ lawyers had extensively challenged the credibility of his main accuser, Willis, during the trial, and also presented evidence that Evans had been an informant in other cases. — Bob Egelko, SFChronicle.com, "Death penalty upheld in 1985 slaying of San Quentin guard, despite recantation," 14 Aug. 2019 Keith was a suspect in part because he was caught in a drug raid where a member of the victims’ family was an informant. — Eric Heisig, cleveland.com, "Kim Kardashian West tweets that former Ohio death row inmate in prison for murder is innocent," 16 July 2019 Person pled guilty to accepting over $90,000 in bribes from a financial advisor who was an FBI informant. — Joseph Goodman | Jgoodman@al.com, al.com, "Basketball corruption could upstage SEC Media Days," 14 July 2019 At the time of his death, it was reported that Klaus had been a police informant participating in a months-long investigation of local heroin sales. — Forum News Service, Twin Cities, "In court for drug charge, Rochester woman arrested for providing drugs that caused informant’s overdose," 22 June 2019 The Justice Department held two meetings Thursday with lawmakers at Trump’s demand after revelations that the FBI had a confidential informant who had long helped the bureau make contact with three advisers to his campaign. — Terrence Dopp, Bloomberg.com, "Trump Continues to Push Claim FBI Informant Was a Campaign ‘Spy’," 25 May 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.