whistleblower
WISS-ul-bloh-er
/ˈwɪslˌbloʊər/
A person who informs on a person or organization engaged in an illicit activity.
Implies someone who exposes wrongdoing from within an organization, often at personal risk, to serve the public interest.
The story behind the word. The term "whistleblower" is a relatively modern English compound word, emerging in the early 20th century. It comes from the practice of a police officer blowing a whistle to alert the public and other officers to a crime, or a referee blowing a whistle to signal a foul. The figurative meaning of someone "blowing the whistle" on wrongdoing within an organization became common by the 1970s, symbolizing an alarm being sounded.
Word relationships
- informant: Broader term, can be used for anyone providing information, often to authorities, sometimes with negative connotations (e.g., police informant). Whistleblower specifically implies exposing wrongdoing from within for public good.
- tipster: More informal, often anonymous, and can be about less serious matters.
- loyalist: A person who remains loyal to the established ruler or government, especially in the face of revolt.
- conspirator: A person who takes part in a conspiracy.
Commonly confused with
- traitor: "Traitor" implies betrayal of one's country or cause, often for personal gain or to harm; "whistleblower" exposes wrongdoing, usually for public good, often at personal cost.
Word family
- whistleblowing (noun): The act of a whistleblower.
Collocations
- government whistleblower
- corporate whistleblower
- protect whistleblowers
- whistleblower protection
Example sentences
- "The whistleblower exposed the company's fraudulent accounting practices, leading to a major federal investigation." Corporate ethics.
- "Despite facing severe retaliation, the government whistleblower refused to retract her claims about illegal surveillance." Government accountability.
Memory hook
WHISTLEBLOWER: BLOWS the WHISTLE on bad behavior. Blows whistle.
When not to use
Don't use for someone who simply reports a crime to the police (e.g., a witness); it specifically refers to someone revealing internal misconduct.
Fun facts
- Ralph Nader is often credited with popularizing the term "whistleblower" in the 1970s.
Related words
Explore more words
disclosure, ethical, denounce, malfeasance, insider trading, speak up
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