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
But, during the trials, you were named as someone who interrogated Aquash for being an informant.
—
Nick Estes, New Yorker, 26 June 2025
Privacy advocates have expressed concern that the program, and Ring’s accompanying Neighbors app, have heightened the risk of racial profiling and turned residents into informants, with few guardrails around how law enforcement can use the material.
—Annie Palmer, CNBC, 25 June 2025
In 2020, the high court ruled that Muslim men who claimed their religious rights were violated for being placed on the government’s no-fly list after refusing to serve as FBI informants could sue the FBI agents for damages.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 24 June 2025
Meanwhile, Harlan has Clyde the Sheriff all over him about what the DEA thinks is going on and how the Buckleys better be careful because there are informants and agents all over the place.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for informant
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Nick Estes, New Yorker, 26 June 2025
Privacy advocates have expressed concern that the program, and Ring’s accompanying Neighbors app, have heightened the risk of racial profiling and turned residents into informants, with few guardrails around how law enforcement can use the material.
—Annie Palmer, CNBC, 25 June 2025
In 2020, the high court ruled that Muslim men who claimed their religious rights were violated for being placed on the government’s no-fly list after refusing to serve as FBI informants could sue the FBI agents for damages.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 24 June 2025
Meanwhile, Harlan has Clyde the Sheriff all over him about what the DEA thinks is going on and how the Buckleys better be careful because there are informants and agents all over the place.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for informant
Cite this Entry
“Informant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/informant. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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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