informant
word
Definition
A person who secretly gives information, especially to the police or authorities. In linguistics, it can also mean someone who provides native language data to researchers.
Usage & Nuances
Mainly used in law enforcement or intelligence contexts for people secretly giving information. Sometimes used neutrally in academic fields like linguistics. Synonyms include 'source', 'whistleblower' (when exposing wrongdoing), or 'snitch' (slang, negative). Choose based on the context and tone.
Example Sentences
The police interviewed the informant to get more details about the case.
basic
For her research, the linguist worked closely with a local informant who spoke the dialect fluently.
natural
An informant told the journalists about the secret meeting.
basic
The detective relied on the informant for important leads.
basic
After weeks of silence, the informant finally called back with new information.
natural
The gang suspected there was an informant among them.
natural