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
In reading court documents, they were stunned to learn about the high number of F.B.I. informants in the case, who had not only helped organize and connect potential domestic terrorists but had secretly taped hundreds of hours of meetings, conversations, and training sessions.
—
Sarah Larson, The New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2024
The case against him began when Canadian police officials received a photograph of weapons from a confidential informant.
—Victoria Bisset, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024
In February, a confidential informant told law enforcement that Khashman approached them about carrying out a hit for him, a criminal complaint details.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 29 Mar. 2024
The agents recruited an undercover informant — a local resident whom Chen paid $2,500 and a pound of dope a month to appear on registration documents and medical marijuana licenses as majority owner of his farms, court records say.
—Sebastian Rotella, ProPublica, 22 Mar. 2024
The Enquirer found two homicide convictions that relied on informant testimony were later overturned.
—The Enquirer, 22 Mar. 2024
In it, Reacher goes undercover to rescue an informant held by a foe from his past.
—Diego Ramos Bechara, Variety, 6 Mar. 2024
California The informant next door: A quiet L.A. life masked Kremlin ties for FBI source accused of lying about Bidens
Feb. 26, 2024
Further, prosecutors have portrayed Smirnov as a vessel for a Russian disinformation campaign.
—Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2024
The inquiry is going ahead, despite the recent arrest of a former FBI informant charged with lying about the Biden family’s involvement in business dealings with a Ukrainian energy company.
—Andrew Torgan, CNN, 25 Feb. 2024
Sarah Larson, The New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2024
The case against him began when Canadian police officials received a photograph of weapons from a confidential informant.
—Victoria Bisset, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024
In February, a confidential informant told law enforcement that Khashman approached them about carrying out a hit for him, a criminal complaint details.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 29 Mar. 2024
The agents recruited an undercover informant — a local resident whom Chen paid $2,500 and a pound of dope a month to appear on registration documents and medical marijuana licenses as majority owner of his farms, court records say.
—Sebastian Rotella, ProPublica, 22 Mar. 2024
The Enquirer found two homicide convictions that relied on informant testimony were later overturned.
—The Enquirer, 22 Mar. 2024
In it, Reacher goes undercover to rescue an informant held by a foe from his past.
—Diego Ramos Bechara, Variety, 6 Mar. 2024
California The informant next door: A quiet L.A. life masked Kremlin ties for FBI source accused of lying about Bidens
Feb. 26, 2024
Further, prosecutors have portrayed Smirnov as a vessel for a Russian disinformation campaign.
—Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2024
The inquiry is going ahead, despite the recent arrest of a former FBI informant charged with lying about the Biden family’s involvement in business dealings with a Ukrainian energy company.
—Andrew Torgan, CNN, 25 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'informant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Informant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/informant. Accessed 18 Apr. 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
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