police informant
Underworld law liaison
A police informant is someone who secretly provides information to law enforcement about criminal activity, often from within criminal circles.
Informants may cooperate to reduce their own charges, for payment, or out of civic duty.
The role carries significant stigma—terms like snitch, rat, and narc reflect how informants are viewed by those they inform on.
The case fell apart when defense attorneys exposed the police informant's credibility problems.
- snitchOne who tells authorities
- ratRodent or informer
- tipsterOne who shares predictions
- whistleblowerInsider who reports misconduct
- narcUndercover drug officer
stool pigeon · squealer · betrayal · undercover · deep cover · wire · handler · witness · witness protection · marked man · testimony · confidential · dead drop · payoff · danger · paranoia · blown cover · shadows
- Informerssnitch, fink, squealer, narc, stool pigeon
police informantstand-up guy
Dependable, honorable person
crime boss · cartel leader · made man · solid · ride-or-die
police informantcorrupt cop
Criminal with a badge
dirty cop · mole · inside man · bent copper · double agent
police, policed, policing, polices, policeman, policewoman, policy, inform, informs