C2nounformalcrime
US/ɪnˈfɔːr.mənt/
UK/ɪnˈfɔː.mənt/
a person who secretly gives the police information about others, or who gives information for research
In context
Police received a tip from an informant inside the smuggling ring.
The informant's identity was kept secret for his own safety.
Linguists interviewed older informants to record the local dialect.
Words that go with informant
noun + noun
- police informantHe secretly worked as a police informant for years.
adjective + noun
- paid informantThe case collapsed when a paid informant changed his story.
- confidential informantThe search was based on a tip from a confidential informant.
- key informantVillage elders were key informants in the study.
verb + preposition
- act as an informantShe agreed to act as an informant in exchange for protection.