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
Women were central — as planners, fighters, informants, protectors, logisticians, and spiritual anchors.
—
Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 8 Mar. 2026
Takeshi Ebisawa poses with a rocket launcher during a meeting with an informant and two undercover Danish police officers at a warehouse in Copenhagen, Denmark February 3, 2021, in a photograph from a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) criminal complaint.
—CBS News, 4 Mar. 2026
Jailhouse informant pointed to Puckett The events that led to his death began the evening of March 12, 1998 — not March 13, as originally presented at trial.
—Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 4 Mar. 2026
Jurors have heard testimony from a confidential informant who set up Merchant with the undercover agents, as well as the agents themselves, and have seen video of Merchant and the confidential informant, Nadeem Ali, discussing the plot in a Queens hotel room.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for informant
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Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 8 Mar. 2026
Takeshi Ebisawa poses with a rocket launcher during a meeting with an informant and two undercover Danish police officers at a warehouse in Copenhagen, Denmark February 3, 2021, in a photograph from a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) criminal complaint.
—CBS News, 4 Mar. 2026
Jailhouse informant pointed to Puckett The events that led to his death began the evening of March 12, 1998 — not March 13, as originally presented at trial.
—Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 4 Mar. 2026
Jurors have heard testimony from a confidential informant who set up Merchant with the undercover agents, as well as the agents themselves, and have seen video of Merchant and the confidential informant, Nadeem Ali, discussing the plot in a Queens hotel room.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 4 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 12 Mar. 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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