stoolpigeon
- noun
- /ˈstuːlˌpɪɡən/
- Slang
:
delator
- The detective revealed that one of the suspects was a stoolpigeon who had given him vital information.
Examples
-
He didn't realize that his friend was a stoolpigeon until he saw him testifying in court against him.
-
In the crime drama, the main character was betrayed by a stoolpigeon from within his own gang.
-
What do you think—you think I'm a fucking rat stoolpigeon?
Fiction book (1997)
Synonyms
165
5.6
A person who secretly gives information to police, journalists, or researchers
83
7.5
A person who secretly tells the police about someone else's bad actions
75
6.1
A person who secretly tells adults or police about things other people do wrong
18
4.1
A person who works secretly for the police to gather information while hiding who they are
18
9.2
A person who gives information about others to the police, betraying them
3
9.9
A person who gives the police secret information about criminals
3
9.9
A person who secretly gives information to the police, often from inside a group
3
8.9
A person who secretly gives information to the police
1
8.7
A person who secretly tells the police about other people's crimes
How Negative
- Offensive
330
7.3
- Offensive
3
8.9
- Offensive
3
9.9
- Slang
165
5.6
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Stoolpigeon comes from an old hunting trick: a pigeon tied to a stool was used as a 'decoy' to 'lure' other birds into traps. So a stoolpigeon today is someone who 'lures' or betrays others for the police, an 'informer'.