informant

noun

in·​for·​mant in-ˈfȯr-mənt How to pronounce informant (audio)
Synonyms of informantnext
: 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.
Police told the outlet that the suspects believed, falsely, that Borel was an informant for a local militia that was trying to establish itself in the Corte neighborhood. Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 8 May 2026 The organization also pointed to evidence that a jailhouse informant attempted to coordinate false testimony and that investigators did not follow up on another potential suspect. Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2026 The Justice Department accuses the group of fraud in connection with its payments to informants. Ella Lee, The Hill, 6 May 2026 Greylord was a watershed in its use of eavesdropping devices and a mole to obtain evidence instead of relying on wrongdoers to become government informants. Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026 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 14 May. 2026.

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

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