narc
noun
narc
1 American
[nahrk]
/ nɑrk /
Or
nark
noun
Slang.
narcs
plural
verb (used without object)
Slang.
narced,
narcing
-
to inform on someone to the police or a narcotics officer for possession, sale, etc., of illicit drugs (usually used withon ).
It figures he’d narc on me to the cops as soon as he saw my stash.
Who narced?
-
to inform on someone to an authority (usually used withon ).
I've narced on drivers I see throwing litter out their windows.
verb phrase
narc-
2
American
narc
British
/ nɑːk /
noun
Usage
What does narc- mean? Narco- is a combining form used like a prefix referring to narcosis and narcotics. Narcosis is a state of stupor or drowsiness, especially as induced by narcotics. Narcotics include drugs such as opiates, heroin, marijuana, and alcohol. Narc- is often used in a few medical and scientific terms, including in pathology and psychiatry. Narc- comes from the Greek nárkē, meaning “numbness, stiffness.”Note that narc and narco are slang for a government agent or detective charged with the enforcement of laws restricting the use of narcotics. Both narco and narc are shortened from narcotic, which as you may have guessed, also comes from the Greek nárkē. Narc is sometimes spelled as nark and, while the two terms somewhat overlap in slang sense, nark as slang for “informer” comes from a completely different origin than narcotic. Discover its surprising source at our entry for nark. Narc- is a variant of narco-, which loses its -o- when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels. Narco- is also used to refer to various aspects of the trade of illegal drugs trade, i.e., narcotics. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use narco- article.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of narc
An Americanism dating back to 1965–70; shortening of narcotic
Explanation
A police detective who enforces drug laws is called a narc. Narcs often work in airports with dogs specially trained to smell various illegal drugs. The word narc is slang shorthand for "narcotics agent," a federal agent or police officer who specializes in laws dealing with illegal drugs. Narc is sometimes also used to mean "police informant," someone who secretly gives inside information to the police, informing on others who are engaging in illegal activity. This second meaning is more often spelled "nark."
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.
See Examples For:
My ethical question is: Should I narc and tell the facility that my relative is not vaccinated?
From New York Times ● Aug. 3, 2021
Not only was he a drone, he was a narc!
From Slate ● Mar. 26, 2021
Being a poser doesn’t make me a narc.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 15, 2020
Anyone who hates court-rushing is a narc, and that's all you should ever say if someone tries to argue otherwise.
From Golf Digest ● Feb. 24, 2020
“I don’t get it. Are you threatening us? If you’re going to narc on us, go ahead and tell the Director. It’s not like I can do anything to stop you.”
From "Internment" by Samira Ahmed
People who come forward are called narcs, tattletales and snitches.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 26, 2026
Everyone in my neighborhood in Boston—not just the narcs and NIMBYs on my local NextDoor—is convinced they’re hearing way more fireworks this year.
From Slate ● Jun. 17, 2020
What’s key to remember about this policy, a Facebook spokesperson tells The Verge, is that Groups and Pages should be spared from censorship, so long as there aren’t narcs in the group.
From The Verge ● Dec. 6, 2018
I mean, these people were totally narcs in high school, but whatever floats your boat, right?
From Golf Digest ● Dec. 12, 2017
“They think this place was too dead last year. They think if they plant some nutcase in with the students—” “Like they plant narcs in schools!” someone else shouted.
From "Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli
Par looked at Morty, now sobbing in the corner, and thought, You narced on me.
From Underground by Dreyfus, Suelette
No one wants to hang with someone who is constantly narcing on them!
From Slate ● Oct. 26, 2020
For the most part, we only talk about them when we’re complaining about them, or narcing on them to pest control companies.
From New York Times ● Feb. 28, 2019
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.
