whistleblower
whistleblower Lexical Profile
whistleblower Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A person, typically an employee or insider, who exposes illicit, unethical, fraudulent, or unsafe activities occurring within a public or private organization.
"Federal laws protect the corporate whistleblower from retaliation after reporting financial fraud to regulators."
Word Nuance & Usage
Unlike 'informant' or 'leaker,' which can carry neutral or negative connotations of secrecy or betrayal, 'whistleblower' typically implies acting in the public interest to expose institutional wrongdoing, and often carries specific legal protections.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the 20th century from the idiom 'to blow the whistle on,' referring to the practice of civic police officers or sports referees blowing a whistle to halt an illegal action or foul.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.