informer
/in'fɔ:mə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A person who provides confidential information, typically to authorities, often in exchange for money or other benefits: An informer is someone who secretly gives information about someone's activities, especially illegal ones, to an official body like the police.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- The police arrested the drug dealer after a tip from an informer.
- He was labeled a traitor for being an informer against his former associates.
Advanced Usage
- "to turn informer": to become an informer, often after being involved in criminal activity oneself.
- Facing a long prison sentence, he decided to turn informer for the prosecution.
Variants and Related Words
- Informant (n): A more general or neutral term for a person who provides information. While often used interchangeably with 'informer', 'informant' can be used in non-criminal contexts (e.g., a research informant).
- Informing (n): The act of providing information, especially of a secret or incriminating nature.
Synonyms
- Snitch (n, informal): A person who informs on someone, often used pejoratively.
- Whistleblower (n): A person who informs on a person or organization regarded as engaging in unlawful or immoral activity, often from within that organization and typically for ethical reasons.
- Source (n): A person, publication, or document that provides information, especially used in journalism or intelligence contexts.
Related Phrases
- Police informer: Specifies an informer who works with the police.
- The gang discovered he was a police informer.
Related Idioms
- To shop someone (to the police) (idiom, chiefly British, informal): To inform on someone.
- He was shopped to the police by his own brother.
Noun
- one who reveals confidential information in return for money