informant

noun

in·​for·​mant in-ˈfȯr-mənt How to pronounce informant (audio)
: a person who gives information: such as
a
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Moreland's plan failed as Pedigo became a confidential informant for the FBI, adding to the federal government's case for obstruction of justice and witness tampering. Hadley Hitson, The Tennessean, 17 July 2025 Nationwide, there have been 256 exonerations tied to the use of jailhouse informants, according to the National Registry of Exonerations. Kristine Phillips, IndyStar, 2 July 2025 Additionally, in the weeks following the rapper’s deadly shooting, a wave of gang violence ensued in L.A. that informants told police was retaliation for Shakur’s murder, the Los Angeles Times reported. Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 1 July 2025 Kennedy met with the CIA after a 1955 tour of the Soviet Union, relaying his observations to the spy agency as a voluntary informant, the documents show. Arkansas Online, 13 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for informant

Word History

First Known Use

1641, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of informant was in 1641

Cite this Entry

“Informant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/informant. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

informant

noun
in·​for·​mant in-ˈfȯr-mənt How to pronounce informant (audio)

Legal Definition

informant

noun
in·​for·​mant in-ˈfȯr-mənt How to pronounce informant (audio)
: one who informs against another
specifically : one who makes a practice especially for money of informing police of others' criminal activities

More from Merriam-Webster on informant

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!