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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.
Lazzaro argued in court the mall victim was the aggressor and had taunted Hernandez over his history as a government informant, saying his reputation as a snitch would put him in grave danger back in prison. Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026 In the season 1 finale, it was revealed that Roman was an undercover FBI informant, which might have been the reason for his vanishing. Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026 Another photo from Espinoza Martinez’s phone of a different gun, which prosecutors allege the defendant was offering for sale to the informant, also could come in, the judge ruled. Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026 The informant’s account was consistent with the special agent’s information that Fluker was a campus supervisor at Winnetonka High School in Kansas City’s Northland. Kansas City Star, 7 Jan. 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 13 Jan. 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

More from Merriam-Webster on informant

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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