ə̇nˈfȯrmənt, -ȯ(ə)m- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Latin informant-, informans, present participle of informare to inform — more at inform
: one that informs : one who gives information: as
a. : informer
b. : one who supplies cultural or linguistic data in response to interrogation by an investigator
findings … based on … statements of informants from among both the educated and the uneducated — B.B.Ashcom
analysis of great civilizations by the use of living informants — Gregory Bateson