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
Synonyms
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
After receiving information from this informant, authorities were able to test Gonzalez’s DNA against the Gatorade bottle and airbags in the car, when Gonzalez was arrested in an unrelated car theft investigation last April, according to court records.
—
Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
Intentionally or not, this makes Cal’s conversation with Armand, his unwilling informant inside Dwight’s organization, harder to take seriously.
—Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2024
Every major city has a local informant who will sell you info about quests, monsters, ingredients, whatever.
—Megan Farokhmanesh, WIRED, 14 Oct. 2024
The setup is sensible for structural reasons, as informants naturally would have no information about secret, unheard of threats, though having to reload before the encounter and alter party formations still feels forced and clunky.
—Josh Broadwell, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for informant 
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.
Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
Intentionally or not, this makes Cal’s conversation with Armand, his unwilling informant inside Dwight’s organization, harder to take seriously.
—Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2024
Every major city has a local informant who will sell you info about quests, monsters, ingredients, whatever.
—Megan Farokhmanesh, WIRED, 14 Oct. 2024
The setup is sensible for structural reasons, as informants naturally would have no information about secret, unheard of threats, though having to reload before the encounter and alter party formations still feels forced and clunky.
—Josh Broadwell, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for informant
Articles Related to informant
Dictionary Entries Near informant
Cite this Entry
“Informant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/informant. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share