Tattletale: meaning, definitions and examples

Typically used among children to describe someone who tells on others, usually to authority figures like teachers or parents.

• Sarah didn't like being called a tattletale by her classmates

Often used in a negative way to describe someone who secretly informs on others, especially in the context of crime and gangs.

• Nobody wanted to be friends with a snitch in the neighborhood

Commonly used in legal or investigative settings to describe someone who provides information, often secretly, to authorities about illegal activities.

• The police relied on an informant to crack the case

Used to describe someone who betrays their country, friends, or a group they belong to, generally in very serious situations.

• He was branded a traitor for leaking government secrets

This word is commonly used to describe someone, especially a child, who tells on others, often causing trouble for them. It has a negative connotation.

• Jeremy was known as the class tattletale, always running to the teacher whenever someone broke the rules.
• Nobody likes a tattletale, so it's better to solve small problems between friends without involving an adult.

This word is used to describe a device or a system that signals a warning or alerts people to danger, such as a fire alarm or an alarm clock.

• The fire alarm went off in the middle of the night, waking everyone in the building.
• She set her alarm for 6 AM to make sure she would wake up early for her flight.

This word refers to devices designed to discover or identify specific substances or conditions, such as a smoke detector or a metal detector.

• Every home should have a smoke detector to warn people in case of fire.
• At the entrance of the museum, visitors must pass through a metal detector for security reasons.