Synonyms

whistleblower

American

[wis-uhl-bloh-er, hwis-] / ˈwɪs əlˌbloʊ ər, ˈʰwɪs- /

Sometimes whistle blower or whistle-blower

noun

a person who informs on another or makes public disclosure of corruption, wrongdoing, problems, or secret information, especially within an organization.

Other Word Forms

whistle-blowing noun
whistleblowing noun

Etymology

Origin of whistleblower

First recorded in 1965–70; whistle ( def. ) + blower ( def. )

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.

Cipriani, a self-professed fixer and whistleblower who claimed to have consulted for the veteran media executive.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

Cipriani, a self-professed fixer, whistleblower and professional gambler who had been spreading innuendo about Shell on social media, according to court filings in a continuing legal dispute between the men.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

Zbur’s bill also would provide whistleblower protections to people who report on attorney misconduct and tighten the rules around client loans.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026

He rebelled, at great risk to himself, deciding to become a filmmaking whistleblower.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

The paper said it reviewed the complaint and had spoken with the whistleblower.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 10, 2026

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023