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Snitch
01
a person who informs on others, often to the police or authorities
Slang
Grammatical Information
Animacy status
Human
Composition
Simple
Countable
Plural form
snitches
What does "snitch" mean in street and prison slang?
It is used to describe a person who informs on others, often to the police or authorities, in exchange for leniency, payment, or personal safety. People typically call someone a "snitch" as an insult or threat, because informing is seen as a betrayal of loyalty and silence codes. The term originated in 18th century British criminal slang, where "snitch" meant an informer, and was carried into American street and prison culture where it remains one of the most serious accusations one can make.
Examples
Nobody trusts him; he 's a snitch.
to snitch
Grammatical Information
Composition
Simple
Action verb
Regular
Present tense
snitch
3rd person singular
snitches
Present participle
snitching
Past simple
snitched
Past participle
snitched
Examples
He decided to snitch on his colleagues, exposing their illegal activities to the police.
02
take by theft
