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 of informant

• informer

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

The investigation died, and the government stopped talking to an informant who had offered a road map to corruption in Congress. — Katie Nixdorf, ProPublica, 3 Oct. 2026

Ellaboudy provided guidance to the informant on how to enhance the Houthis’ communications equipment. — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2026

Users will be able to request information on security officers, informants or recruitment targets based on their name, date or place of birth, mother's name, code name and document type or number. — Arkansas Online, 30 Sep. 2026

Shockingly, files revealed one key suspect was secretly working as a confidential informant for German intelligence. — Staff, FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1641, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for informant

• dormant
• formant

Kids 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