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informer

informer

27 6.0
A person who secretly tells police about someone else's crimes to get money or protection
  • noun
  • /ɪnˈfɔrmər/
translation icon : informante
  • The police relied on an informer to provide details about the criminal organization.
  • police informer
  • spies and informers
  • secret informers

So they all thought I was the police informer from day one you're with me.

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Examples

  • Lieutenant Kendrick told us we had an informer in our group- that Private Santiago had gone outside the chain of command... and reported to the N.I.S. on a member of our platoon.

  • The chancellor suspects there might be an informer.

  • 'Cause we had an informer on the inside helping us.

  • We still have to find the informer so we can plan our next move in security.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • Anyone who believes I'll turn informer for nothing is a fool.

  • "Just tell me the names and we're even," the informer said soullessly.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Since Corley is a police informer, this is not surprising.

    Academic text (1991)
  • I was to meet this alleged informer in a lonely rural setting in Cass County.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The media coverage convinced many that the informers, not their targets, were the victims of a witch-hunt.

    Academic text (1996)
  • New laws were introduced that would compensate informers and punish those who withheld information regarding terrorist activities.

    Academic text (1991)

Synonyms

rat
vsinformer
  • Offensive
330 7.3

A person who betrays a group by telling secret information to outsiders

applies to secret reports to authorities, not limited to group or strike contexts
informant
vsinformer
165 5.6

A person who secretly gives information to police, journalists, or researchers

is limited to secret incriminating reports to police rather than various recipients
snitch
vsinformer
  • Slang
83 7.5

A person who secretly tells the police about someone else's bad actions

often informs for personal gain rather than only to avoid trouble
whistle-blower
vsinformer
66 5.0

A person who tells authorities or the public about illegal actions at their workplace

often reports secretly to police for personal gain rather than to expose misconduct
fink
vsinformer
  • Offensive
18 9.2

A person who gives information about others to the police, betraying them

often acts for personal gain rather than only betraying colleagues
squealer
vsinformer
  • Offensive
6 8.1

A person who tells the police about other people's crimes

tends to act secretly rather than openly accusing others
stoolie
vsinformer
  • Offensive
3 9.9

A person who secretly gives information to the police, often from inside a group

usually supplies secret incriminating information rather than acting as a police decoy
snitcher
vsinformer
  • Offensive
1 8.7

A person who secretly tells the police about other people's crimes

focuses on secret incriminating reports for personal gain rather than only betrayal

Antonyms

30 5.1

A person you trust with your private thoughts or problems

How Serious

whistleblower
324 6.2
informer
27 6.0
snitch
  • Slang
83 7.5
squealer
  • Offensive
6 8.1
tattletale
  • Offensive
9 6.9
tattler
  • Offensive
1 8.1
busybody
  • Offensive
16 7.1

Surface Forms

informer singular
informers plural

Morphology

informer = inform (transparent) = inform + er

Agent noun formed regularly from the verb 'inform' with the productive suffix '-er', so the meaning 'someone who informs' is directly derived.

Etymology

Informer comes from inform, which means 'to give information', plus the ending -er meaning 'a person who does something', so an informer is 'a person who gives information'. That's why today an informer usually means someone who secretly tells the police or an authority about crimes.