snitch

¹ American  

[snich] / snɪtʃ /

verb (used with object)

Informal.

1. to snatch or steal; pilfer.

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snitch ² American  

[snich] / snɪtʃ /

verb (used without object)

1. to turn informer; tattle.

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noun

1. Also called snitcher.  an informer.

snitch British  

/ snɪtʃ /

verb

1. (tr) to steal; take, esp in an underhand way

2. (intr) to act as an informer

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noun

1. an informer; telltale

2. the nose

Usage

What does snitch mean? Snitch is an insulting name for a person who informs the police or other authorities when others break the law or the rules.Snitch can refer to an informant who reports a crime or a tattletale who tells on someone, especially to their parents or to a teacher. It can also be used as a verb meaning to inform on or tattle on someone. All uses of this sense of the word are intended to be negative and very insulting.Less commonly, snitch can be used as a verb meaning to steal, or as a noun meaning the nose.In the Harry Potter series of books and movies, the golden snitch is the small flying object in the game of quidditch that gets chased after by players called seekers (including Harry Potter himself). Capturing the snitch wins the game for one’s team.Example: We call you a snitch because you snitched on us for snitching the snitch from McGonagall’s office! Next time keep your mouth shut!

Other Word Forms

• snitcher noun

Etymology

Origin of snitch¹

First recorded in 1900–05; perhaps variant of snatch

Origin of snitch²

First recorded in 1775–85; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

“This is the nation’s largest snitch scandal by far,” Sanders said.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 29, 2025

Think twice before becoming the snitch that stole Christmas.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 24, 2025

There is something about a healthy personality that feels repelled by a snoop, a snitch, a stool pigeon, an informer.

From Salon • Sep. 28, 2025

In 59 other cases, charges were dropped, convictions overturned or sentences reduced because of what Sanders uncovered in the O.C. snitch scandal.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2025

Basically, there were already about a thousand things I could snitch on Uncle for if I wanted.

From "Kira-Kira" by Cynthia Kadohata