informants
word · lemma: informant
Definition
People who secretly provide important information, often to police, security agencies, or researchers.
Usage & Nuances
'Informants' is used mainly in legal, police, or research contexts. In crime stories, it often refers to 'police informants.' For linguistics or anthropology, it means someone providing language or cultural data. It's more formal and neutral than 'snitch' or 'spy,' which are negative.
Example Sentences
Some informants help solve crimes.
basic
The journalist protected her informants at all costs.
natural
Many informants refuse to reveal their names to stay safe.
natural
The police have several informants in the city.
basic
The researchers interviewed informants from the local community.
basic
Without informants, the investigation would have stalled.
natural