snitch
1 Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
noun
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snitches
plural
verb
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(tr) to steal; take, esp in an underhand way
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(intr) to act as an informer
noun
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an informer; telltale
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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
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of snitch1
First recorded in 1900–05; perhaps variant of snatch
Origin of snitch2
First recorded in 1775–85; origin uncertain
Explanation
To snitch is to tattle on someone, and a snitch is someone who tattles. If you snitch on your brother when he "borrows" five dollars without asking, he might call you a snitch — but, on the bright side, he'll probably have to pay you back. The oldest meaning of the informal snitch is "to betray" or, as a noun, "informer." This probably stems from 18th-century underworld slang, in which snitch meant "nose" — perhaps because a snitch is really nosy. A newer definition of snitch, "to steal," is thought to be a variation on snatch, and it first appeared around the turn of the 20th century. In the Harry Potter books, a snitch is a winged, golden ball used in the game of Quidditch.
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:
“LinkedIn’s low-key a snitch for that,” Istomin said about the alerts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
“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
The State Department's snitch program may not go anywhere within its offices.
From Salon ● Apr. 15, 2025
If it looked like I was stalling, the neighbors would snitch, and she'd jump down my throat and tack on another week for lollygagging.
From "When I Was the Greatest" by Jason Reynolds
To add to the Stasi effect, the tip line offers snitches anonymity.
From Salon ● Apr. 15, 2025
The emails appear designed to pit federal workers against one other, granting carrots to the snitches and wielding sticks over the silent.
From Slate ● Jan. 23, 2025
A known informant was placed next to Dekraai in the county jail, and Sanders’ motions trying to find out more about the informant revealed a systematic, illegal use of snitches in a slew of cases.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2023
Adora’s estranged daughter, Marsha, is a thief who hates snitches, patriotism, children, food and people who stand instead of walking on escalators.
From New York Times ● May 3, 2022
Now, however, though the code of silence is still nominally in place, inmate lips seem looser and officers’ use of snitches more widespread.
From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover
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.
