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tattletale

American  
[tat-l-teyl] / ˈtæt lˌteɪl /

noun

  1. a talebearer or informer, especially among children.

adjective

  1. telltale; revealing.

    a tattletale smear of lipstick on his collar.
tattletale British  
/ ˈtætəlˌteɪl /

noun

  1. a scandalmonger or gossip

  2. another word for telltale

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of tattletale

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90; tattle + tale

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.

Danielle Spencer, the former child star who played sassy tattletale Dee Thomas on the 1970s sitcom “What’s Happening!!,” has died.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 12, 2025

All media; corporate media, social media, local media, national media, state media, non-profit, for-profit and the tattletale kid down the street.

From Salon • Jun. 6, 2024

He has established a tattletale line to complain about teachers.

From Washington Post • Apr. 30, 2022

Don’t worry about coming across like a tattletale.

From Slate • Mar. 19, 2018

When Noah woke up he got to hear the whole story from the tattletale brothers.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

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.