insider

noun

in·​sid·​er (ˌ)in-ˈsī-dər 

ˈin-ˌsī-

: a person recognized or accepted as a member of a group, category, or organization: such as

a

: a person who is in a position of power or has access to confidential information

b

: a person (such as an officer or director) who is in a position to have special knowledge of the affairs of or to influence the decisions of a company

Examples of insider in a Sentence

Political insiders say that she is planning to run for president.

The book gives fans an insider's view of Hollywood.

Recent Examples on the Web

Her Washington insider status is meaningless during the next four years of the Trump administration and an unfriendly Congress. —Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 7 Feb. 2025

Vogue Shopping The insider’s guide to what to shop and how to wear it. —Kiana Murden, Vogue, 6 Feb. 2025

Closing the department would require Congress to pass new legislation, and Washington insiders are still skeptical his efforts will pass legal or political muster. —Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY, 4 Feb. 2025

The whole pile-up of chaos over the weekend left Washington insiders trying to figure out just how to triage the waves of norm-breaking headlines flowing from the White House without any real push-back from Republicans. —Philip Elliott, TIME, 3 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing insider

• insider trading

Kids Definition

insider

noun

in·​sid·​er (ˈ)in-ˈsīd-ər 

: a person who is a member of a special group or organization

Legal Definition

insider

noun

in·​sid·​er

: a person who is in a position of power or has access to confidential information: as

a

: one (as an officer, director, employee, relative, or owner of more than 10% of the corporation's stock) who is in a position to have special knowledge of the affairs of or to influence the decisions of a company

b

: an individual (as a relative or an influential party) or entity (as a corporate affiliate) having a close relationship with a debtor such that transactions are not made at arm's length and are subject to closer scrutiny than the transactions of those dealing at arm's length