An informant is someone who provides information, typically to an organization, group, or authority. The context in which the term is used can affect its specific meaning:
- In Law Enforcement or Intelligence:
An informant is someone who provides confidential information about illegal activities, often to the police, government agencies, or intelligence organizations. These informants might be insiders or individuals connected to criminal networks.- Example: A witness informing the police about a planned crime.
- In Anthropology or Social Research:
An informant is a person from whom a researcher gathers information, particularly in studies involving ethnography or cultural understanding. The informant is usually a member of the community or group being studied.- Example: A local tribal elder sharing cultural practices with a researcher.
- In Linguistics:
An informant is someone who provides data about their language, such as vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation, which researchers use for linguistic analysis.- Example: A native speaker helping a linguist document a lesser-known language.
In general, an informant is a source of valuable information, often used to gain insights that are otherwise difficult to obtain.
