معنای فرهنگ لغت "مخبر" به شخصی گفته می شود که اطلاعات، به ویژه اطلاعات محرمانه یا محرمانه را در اختیار شخص صاحب مقام قرار می دهد. همچنین می‌تواند به شخصی اشاره داشته باشد که شخص یا گروه دیگری را، معمولاً به مقامات، برای انجام برخی تخلفات یا فعالیت‌های غیرقانونی اطلاع می‌دهد.
1. Digging elsewhere, my immense informer had snagged a lot of ancillary details about his family, including corroboration that Mike, the middle brother, and John, the eldest, were co-owners of the house on Racine where I was currently laid out.
2. But I still think that you should let me talk to your informer.
3. I wanted no fence against fraud, or oppression here was neither physician to destroy my body, nor lawyer to ruin my fortune no informer to watch my words and actions, or forge accusations against me for hire here were no gibers, censurers, backbiters, pickpockets, highwaymen, housebreakers, attorneys, buffoons, gamesters, politicians, wits, splenetics, tedious talkers, controvertists, ravishers, murderers, robbers, virtuosos no leaders, or followers, of party and faction no encouragers to vice, by seducement or example no dungeon, axes, gibbets, whipping posts, or pillories no cheating shopkeepers, or mechanics no pride, vanity, or affectation no fops, bullies, drunkards no ranting, expensive wives no stupid, proud pedants no importunate, overbearing, quarrelsome, noisy, roaring, empty, conceited, swearing companions no scoundrels raised from the dust for the sake of their vices, or nobility thrown into it on account of their virtues no lords, fiddlers, judges, or dancing masters.