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
The New York Times first reported on the informant inside the regime.
—
Phil Helsel, NBC news, 4 Jan. 2026
In a separate court filing submitted Monday, Cole’s attorneys also demanded broad discovery, including all statements attributed to him, investigative notes, information about the FBI’s use of informants to identify Cole as a suspect, and any exculpatory material.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 29 Dec. 2025
At Cummins, an inmate informant told him there were as many as 200 skeletons buried not far from the barracks.
—Arkansas Online, 27 Dec. 2025
Record-keeping processes have been improved on the use of informants to, among other things, make sure defense attorneys get the proper discovery.
—Tony Saavedra, Oc Register, 24 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for informant
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Phil Helsel, NBC news, 4 Jan. 2026
In a separate court filing submitted Monday, Cole’s attorneys also demanded broad discovery, including all statements attributed to him, investigative notes, information about the FBI’s use of informants to identify Cole as a suspect, and any exculpatory material.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 29 Dec. 2025
At Cummins, an inmate informant told him there were as many as 200 skeletons buried not far from the barracks.
—Arkansas Online, 27 Dec. 2025
Record-keeping processes have been improved on the use of informants to, among other things, make sure defense attorneys get the proper discovery.
—Tony Saavedra, Oc Register, 24 Dec. 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 9 Jan. 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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