Cool MateInformant vs Spy
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Informant
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Spy
Beyond 10,000 (less common)C1noun
| Informant | Spy | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ɪnˈfɔːmənt//🇺🇸 //ɪnˈfɔrmənt// | 🇬🇧 /["/spaɪ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/spaɪ/"]/ |
| Meaning | A person who gives information, especially to the police. | A person who secretly watches or gathers information about others. |
| Example | The police relied on an informant to gather crucial evidence. | The spy successfully infiltrated the enemy's headquarters to gather confidential information. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | - | C1 |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | police informant, anonymous informant, key informant, confidential informant, informant agreement | enemy, foreign, government, network, act as, be, work as, infiltrate, film, movie, novel, spy for |
| Antonyms | - | friend, ally, supporter |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'informational' which refers to information-related., Using 'informant' to describe someone giving general information, not just in legal contexts. | Confused with 'spying' as a noun vs adjective., Using 'spy' without an object (e.g., 'I spy' needs a target, like 'I spy a bird')., Using 'spy' in the past tense incorrectly (e.g., 'spied' is correct, not 'spied on'). |
| Usage notes | Commonly used in legal and police contexts. Be careful using it informally, as it can imply secrecy or betrayal. | Use 'spy' in both informal and formal contexts. It can refer to espionage or simply watching someone closely. It's not appropriate in casual conversations unless joking. |
Frequently asked questions: Informant vs Spy
What's the difference between Informant and Spy?
Informant: A person who gives information, especially to the police. Spy: A person who secretly watches or gathers information about others.
Can you show an example of each?
Informant: The police relied on an informant to gather crucial evidence. Spy: The spy successfully infiltrated the enemy's headquarters to gather confidential information.
Can I use Informant and Spy interchangeably?
Not always. Informant and Spy are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.