informant - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
informant Word Meanings
- a person who provides information, especially to the police or a researcher
- a person who informs or gives knowledge about something
- an individual who shares data or insights on a specific topic
informant Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
informant Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ɪnˈfɔːmənt/
US
/ɪnˈfɔrmənt/
informant Word Etymology
from in- = in, within + formare = to form. Historical origin: Latin → Old French → English. Imagine a person quietly forming a bridge of trust by sharing secrets, leading to a deeper understanding.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputReal Context
An informant is a person who provides information to others, especially to the police, investigators, or researchers. In crime investigations, informants may share tips, sightings, or hidden details, sometimes under an agreement of confidentiality or in exchange for money or leniency. In fieldwork, a key informant is someone with inside knowledge who helps researchers understand a community by explaining customs, beliefs, or practical realities that outsiders would miss. The term can also describe someone who informs others about a topic—like a local expert who bridges knowledge gaps. Informants often require careful handling to protect their safety and to preserve the accuracy and ethics of what they reveal.
Usage Reminders
- Use informant for a person who provides information to authorities or researchers.
- Do not imply the person is a criminal; informant is neutral or risky.
- Distinguish between informant and witness: informant provides information, witness gives testimony.
- In research, use key informant for a person with inside knowledge.
- Be mindful of privacy and ethics when discussing informants or sharing tips.
Common Misconceptions
- Informants are only associated with crime or snitching and not with research contexts
- All tips come from informants; every tip is equally reliable
- Informant and witness are the same thing
- Informant implies a formal payment or legal threat
- Informant always operates secretly or illegally
Thinking Differences
Explain to an English speaker: Informant is a formal noun with police, research, and fieldwork senses; learners often assume it only means a criminal snitch or mix it up with inform as a verb. Key informant is common in anthropology and sociology.
Learning Tips
- Learn the two main senses: police/research and fieldwork terminology
- Distinguish informant from witness and from inform as a verb
- Practice the phrase key informant for researchers
- Note collocations like informant, informant source, and informant confidentiality
- Be aware of ethical considerations when discussing informants
- Pronounce the stress pattern in for-MANT or in-for-MANT
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 1: Meaning
What is the meaning of the word 'informant'?
A.A person who provides information
B.A person who is silent
C.A person who is forgetful
D.A person who is shy
Step 2: Usage
Which sentence uses 'informant' correctly?
A.The police received valuable information from an informant.
B.He always tells stories to entertain us.
C.She is very quiet and doesn't share anything.
D.I often forget what happened yesterday.
Step 3: Similar Words
What is a synonym for 'informant'?
A.Silent person
B.Messenger
C.Witness
D.Spy
Step 4: Opposite Words
What is an antonym for 'informant'?
A.Storyteller
B.Truth seeker
C.Listener
D.Secretive person
Step 5: Mastery
In what real-life scenario would you expect to encounter an informant?
A.At a library
B.During a cooking class
C.On a hiking trail
D.In a police investigation
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