informant
gb/ɪnfˈɔɹmənt/ us/ɪnfˈɔɹmənt/
B2
English
informátor, besúgó, adatközlő, forrás
NOUN
C1
LEGAL
1
informátor
C1
besúgó
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is an informant for [police/agency]; information from an informant
The police said the arrest was based on information from a confidential informant.
A rendőrség szerint a letartóztatás egy titkos informátor értesülései alapján történt.
He agreed to become an informant after he was caught with drugs.
Beleegyezett, hogy informátor lesz, miután droggal kapták el.
Prosecutors argued that the informant’s details matched other evidence.
Learner examples
The informant gave the police a name.
Az informátor megadott egy nevet a rendőrségnek.
They protected the informant’s identity.
Megvédték az informátor kilétét.
Common mistake:
Often confused with informer; informant is very common in police/crime contexts and can sound more official.
Meaning
person who secretly gives police information
Collocations
confidential informant
|police informant
|anonymous informant
|paid informant
|reliable informant
|key informant
|an informant's identity
|information from an informant
|tip from an informant
|informant network
Synonyms
source (More general; not necessarily connected to the police.)
|
informer (Similar meaning; can sound slightly more general or old-fashioned in some contexts.)
|
tipster (Emphasizes giving tips rather than ongoing cooperation.)
|
snitch (Slang and usually negative or insulting.)
Themes
crime
|law
|government
Definition
A person who secretly tells the police information.
A person who gives information to the police or other authorities, often secretly, especially about criminal activity.
NOUN
C2
TECHNICAL
2
adatközlő
C1
Usage pattern:
[someone] acts as an informant for [researcher/study]; interview an informant
The study relied on three key informants who had lived in the area for decades.
A kutatás három kulcsfontosságú adatközlőre támaszkodott, akik évtizedek óta a környéken éltek.
Each informant was interviewed twice during the fieldwork period.
A terepmunka ideje alatt minden adatközlővel kétszer készítettek interjút.
The linguist compared recordings from different informants to check the pattern.
Learner examples
The researcher interviewed an informant.
A kutató interjút készített egy adatközlővel.
Her informant explained local customs.
Az adatközlője elmagyarázta a helyi szokásokat.
Common mistake:
In academic writing, informant does not mean a police source; the meaning depends on the research context.
Meaning
research participant who provides insider information
Collocations
key informant
|local informant
|informant interview
|informant data
|informant testimony
|fieldwork informant
|informant report
|informant responses
|informant consent
|recruit informants
Synonyms
participant (Broader and more neutral; common in modern research ethics language.)
|
respondent (Often used for surveys and questionnaires.)
|
consultant (Common in linguistics for a native speaker who helps analyze language.)
Themes
education
|science
|language
Definition
A person who gives information to a researcher for a study.
A person who provides information to a researcher, especially in anthropology, sociology, or linguistics, often based on personal knowledge of a community, culture, or language.
NOUN
B2
FORMAL
3
forrás
B2
informátor
C1
Usage pattern:
[someone] is an informant on [topic]; informant to [group/organization]
According to an informant close to the negotiations, the deal is nearly finished.
A tárgyalásokhoz közel álló egyik forrás szerint a megállapodás majdnem végleges.
The reporter refused to reveal the informant’s name.
A riporter nem volt hajlandó felfedni a forrás nevét.
Multiple informants gave the same account of what happened.
Learner examples
The informant told the journalist the news.
A forrás elmondta a hírt az újságírónak.
An informant gave details about the plan.
Egy forrás részleteket árult el a tervről.
Common mistake:
In everyday conversation, people usually say source or person; informant often sounds formal or police-related.
Meaning
person who supplies information
Collocations
a reliable informant
|an anonymous informant
|a well-placed informant
|an informant on the issue
|a trusted informant
|informant testimony
|informant statement
|informant's account
Synonyms
source (The most common everyday word for where information comes from.)
|
insider (Suggests special access to internal information.)
Themes
communication
Definition
A person who gives information to others.
A person who supplies information to someone else; a source of information.
Grammar
Dictionary form
informant
IPA
GB/ɪnfˈɔɹmənt/
US/ɪnfˈɔɹmənt/
Syllables & stress
in - form - ant (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (form)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: informant
- Plural: informants
Word family
Forms
informants
noun
Core family
Related words
informer
noun
informational
adjective B2
Negative and opposite forms
Advanced or less common
disinformation
noun C1
Expressions
anonymous informant
1/ənˈɑnəməs ɪnfˈɔɹmənt/
fixed phrase
informant who stays unnamed
A person who gives information but does not give their name.
Examples
- The search began after a tip from an anonymous informant.
- Officials said they could not verify the anonymous informant’s claims.
Learner examples
- An anonymous informant called the police.
confidential informant
1/kˌɑnfədˈɛnʃəl ɪnfˈɔɹmənt/
fixed phrase
legal
informant whose identity is protected
A police informant whose name is kept secret.
Examples
- A confidential informant arranged the meeting with the suspect.
- The judge reviewed the confidential informant’s statement in private.
Learner examples
- The police used a confidential informant.
government informant
1/ɡˈʌvɚnmənt ɪnfˈɔɹmənt/
fixed phrase
informant who reports to authorities
A person who secretly gives information to the government.
Examples
- The report claimed there was a government informant in the organization.
- Several activists said they felt they were being watched by government informants.
jailhouse informant
1/d͡ʒˈeɪlhˌaʊs ɪnfˈɔɹmənt/
fixed phrase
legal
prison inmate who provides testimony
A prisoner who tells the police information about another prisoner.
Examples
- The conviction relied heavily on a jailhouse informant’s testimony.
- The judge warned the jury to treat the jailhouse informant with caution.
paid informant
1/pˈeɪd ɪnfˈɔɹmənt/
fixed phrase
informant who is paid for information
An informant who gets money for information.
Examples
- Defense lawyers attacked the credibility of the paid informant.
- The agency admitted it had used a paid informant in the operation.
Learner examples
- The paid informant gave a description.
police informant
1/pəlˈis ɪnfˈɔɹmənt/
fixed phrase
informant who works with police
A person who gives the police secret information.
Examples
- He was revealed as a police informant during the trial.
- The gang suspected there was a police informant inside their group.
Learner examples
- She was a police informant.