whistleblower
Americannoun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of whistleblower
First recorded in 1965–70; whistle ( def. ) + blower ( def. )
Explanation
A whistleblower is someone who reveals illegal activity that's been going on at their workplace. By making their allegations, most whistleblowers put their jobs in jeopardy. Whistleblowers have exposed all kinds of wrongdoing at both private companies and government agencies, from fraud and illegal hiring practices to corruption and public health dangers. Many historians consider Benjamin Franklin to be the first U.S. whistleblower, for leaking letters between British officials, an action that was seen as a step toward revolution. The term wasn't applied to the act of revealing secret information until the 1970s, when activist Ralph Nader used it lieu of negative words like "snitch."
Vocabulary lists containing whistleblower
Simply Scandalous!
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U.S. Government - Middle School and High School
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U.S. Government - Middle School and High School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Representatives from the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan and the Treasury Department last year met with the whistleblower and later received documentation tied to her claims, the people said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
It also had an impact on several former employees who clashed with Neal or Clement, some of whom had filed whistleblower complaints.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
A probe found former Lloyd's of London CEO John Neal failed to ensure whistleblower complaints about his relationship were handled appropriately.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
According to Redlands’ city records and the Redlands News, Martinez retired last April as part of a $871,956 settlement agreement related to a whistleblower claim against the city.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 11, 2026
One victim, identified only as "Ruby", is being supported by The Maggie Oliver Foundation, set up by Maggie Oliver, an ex-police detective turned whistleblower over grooming gangs.
From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
