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
Shiwa Hassanpour, an activist with the human rights monitor Hengaw Organization, based in Iraq’s Kurdish region, said people have been shot for approaching the border, because Iranian forces suspect them of being spies or informants.
—
ABC News, 30 Mar. 2026
The Weathermen and Panthers held meetings together and exchanged intel about government surveillance and police informants.
—Zayd Ayers Dohrn, New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2026
Zannelli stepped in as acting chief in January after Karl Jacobson abruptly filed retirement papers when he was confronted about money that was missing from the fund the department uses to pay confidential informants.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 25 Mar. 2026
The Miami Herald has previously reported that Pretel, who ran a company known as Counter Terrorist Unit Federal Academy and helped recruit the Colombian commandos, was an FBI informant.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for informant
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ABC News, 30 Mar. 2026
The Weathermen and Panthers held meetings together and exchanged intel about government surveillance and police informants.
—Zayd Ayers Dohrn, New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2026
Zannelli stepped in as acting chief in January after Karl Jacobson abruptly filed retirement papers when he was confronted about money that was missing from the fund the department uses to pay confidential informants.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 25 Mar. 2026
The Miami Herald has previously reported that Pretel, who ran a company known as Counter Terrorist Unit Federal Academy and helped recruit the Colombian commandos, was an FBI informant.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for informant
Cite this Entry
“Informant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/informant. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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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