French word

indic

Pronunciation

IPA/ɛ̃dik/

Meaning

  • masculine nouninformant

Example

J'ai rencontré un indic hier soir.

I met an informant last night.

Illustration for indic (informant)

More examples

Des sources ont confirmé qu'il y avait un indic parmi les invités.

Sources confirmed that there was an informant among the guests.

Core concept

A human link who secretly carries useful information from the hidden side of an investigation.

Similar words

informateur: A source of information for an authority or organization.
mouchard: A person who secretly informs against others.
balance: A person who leaks the secrets of people in their own group.

Definition in French

Personne qui transmet secrètement des informations, en général à la police ou à des enquêteurs, parfois contre paiement.

Word origin

The noun comes from the shortened French form indic of indicateur, a word formed from Latin indicare, 'to point out'.

Usage tips

  • Indic belongs to informal speech and may sound derogatory, while informateur or source suits more neutral contexts.

Other meanings

  • snitchnoun

Related words

Word lists with this word