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

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

From Salon

"I think that's probably the only way it's going to be solved - someone on the inside becomes an informer."

From BBC

It will also introduce extra powers for investigators, and a special protected status for informers.

From BBC

Martin was described as an informer within the IRA.

From BBC

One of them was a BBC report from 1987, which featured a clip from a news conference in which Mr Adams spoke about the murder of Charles McIlmurray, whom the IRA claimed was an informer.

From BBC

Related Words

• announcer