informant

Everyday

1. A person who gives information to someone else, for example to a researcher or reporter. tree →
2. A person who secretly gives the police information about crimes; an informer. tree →

In the lessons

In science and language research, an informant is someone who answers questions about their language, customs or experiences. In detective stories, an informant (or «grass», «snitch» in slang) secretly tells the police. In news, a journalist may protect an informant's name.

Examples

• The scientist interviewed local informants about the old customs. tree →
• The police received a tip from an informant. tree →
• The reporter would not name her informant. tree →
• In the Wild Wood, the weasels had an informant who told them Toad's plans. tree →
• Language researchers record informants speaking their language. tree →
• The detective met his informant in the café. tree →
• “He is reputed to be a wise and hardy man,” said his informant. tree →

Note

Countable: an informant (use «an» before the vowel sound). Similar: informer (usually for police), source. Slang words (grass, snitch, nark) are rude or unkind.