informer

[ in-fawr-mer ]

noun

1. a person who informs inform against another, especially for money or other reward.
2. a person who informs inform or communicates information or news; informant.

informer

/ ɪnˈfɔːmə /

noun

1. a person who informs against someone, esp a criminal
2. a person who provides information

   he was the President's financial informer

Word History and Origins

Origin of informer¹

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; inform ¹, -er ¹

Example Sentences

Time limits were placed on investigations, the FBI in Washington had to approve informers, and the attorney general had to approve mail interceptions and “other invasive investigative methods,” Medsger wrote.

From Washington Post

The witnesses against him may include Vincente Zambada, brother of the informer-hating Serafin.

From The Daily Beast

Serafin posted numerous identifiable photos of himself on Facebook, as well as pictures of a disemboweled informer.

From The Daily Beast

An inquiry headed by the Police Ombudsman, a sort of referee figure, came down against the informer allegation.

From The Daily Beast

Other rabbis denounced the open condemnation of community pedophiles, labeling Rosenberg an “informer” against the Jewish people.

From The Daily Beast

He started as a KGB informer in the 1930s in London, while working as a London Times correspondent.

From The Daily Beast

Dale, an indefatigable informer, was consumed by vermin, and died a miserable spectacle.

From Project Gutenberg

Kurt then suddenly understood that his impudent small sister had probably been the informer and he did not know what to answer.

From Project Gutenberg

The informer, blank-faced and stern, noted the crime and informed the police.

From Project Gutenberg

One morning the informer was found by the jailer hanging to the bars of his window.

From Project Gutenberg

How comes it that he is not produced here to tell your Lordships who was his informer, and what he knows of the transaction?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• announcer