insider

noun

in·​sid·​er (ˌ)in-ˈsī-dər How to pronounce insider (audio)
ˈin-ˌsī-
: a person recognized or accepted as a member of a group, category, or organization: such as
a
: a person who is in a position of power or has access to confidential information
b
: a person (such as an officer or director) who is in a position to have special knowledge of the affairs of or to influence the decisions of a company

Examples of insider in a Sentence

Political insiders say that she is planning to run for president. The book gives fans an insider's view of Hollywood.
Recent Examples on the Web The estimates are based on financial documents, legal filings and press reports, as well as conversations with industry insiders. Brett Knight, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023 The Grow-Up Pleats Vogue Shopping The insider’s guide to what to shop and how to wear it. Christina Holevas, Vogue, 28 Nov. 2023 Several notable artists, actors, and industry insiders graced the red carpet in unforgettable looks. Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 27 Nov. 2023 The beauty e-tailer is known by insiders for its discounts on up-and-coming, under-the-radar brands. Andrea Navarro, Glamour, 24 Nov. 2023 The sport’s big bet on Las Vegas paid off as the race got rave reviews from F1 insiders. Sahil Kapur, NBC News, 22 Nov. 2023 Multiple Binance insiders say the firm could comfortably absorb a $4 billion hit, but whether the exchange would be capable of bringing itself in line with whatever requirements the DOJ intends to impose under a deferred prosecution agreement is another question. Joel Khalili, WIRED, 21 Nov. 2023 Republican unity next November would narrow Tester’s path to victory, especially if he’s branded as a Washington insider. Matthew Brown, Fortune, 20 Nov. 2023 Hokkaido is also, insiders know, one of the world’s premier ski destinations thanks to simply phenomenal snow. Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 16 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'insider.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of insider was in 1848

Dictionary Entries Near insider

Cite this Entry

“Insider.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insider. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

insider

noun
in·​sid·​er (ˈ)in-ˈsīd-ər How to pronounce insider (audio)
: a person who is a member of a special group or organization

Legal Definition

insider

noun
in·​sid·​er
: a person who is in a position of power or has access to confidential information: as
a
: one (as an officer, director, employee, relative, or owner of more than 10% of the corporation's stock) who is in a position to have special knowledge of the affairs of or to influence the decisions of a company
b
: an individual (as a relative or an influential party) or entity (as a corporate affiliate) having a close relationship with a debtor such that transactions are not made at arm's length and are subject to closer scrutiny than the transactions of those dealing at arm's length

More from Merriam-Webster on insider

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!