informant

noun

in·​for·​mant in-ˈfȯr-mənt How to pronounce informant (audio)
: 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.
The judge's bond denial, which was upheld by an immigration appeals board, mentioned information from an informant who the government deemed to be credible. Camilo Montoya-Galvez, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2025 That claim was based on an informant’s statements in 2019. Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2025 Deep Throat, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein’s secret informant during Watergate, was revealed to be Mark Felt, then a deputy director at the FBI. Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 28 Mar. 2025 Brian Hooker, public informant officer for Caltrans, stated the importance of the road to the local economy during its busy early spring season. Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2025 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 16 Apr. 2025.

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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