Informer vs. Spy

Informernoun

One who informs someone else about something.

Spynoun

A person who secretly watches and examines the actions of other individuals or organizations and gathers information on them (usually to gain an advantage).

Informernoun

A person who tells authorities about improper or illegal activity.

Spyverb

(intransitive) To act as a spy.

‘During the Cold War, Russia and America would each spy on each other for recon.’;

Informernoun

One who informs, animates, or inspires.

Spyverb

(transitive) To spot; to catch sight of.

‘I think I can spy that hot guy coming over here.’;

Informernoun

One who informs, animates, or inspires.

‘Nature, informer of the poet's art.’;

Spyverb

(intransitive) To search narrowly; to scrutinize.

Informernoun

One who informs, or imparts knowledge or news.

Spyverb

(transitive) To explore; to see; to view; inspect and examine secretly, as a country.

Informernoun

One who informs a magistrate of violations of law; one who informs against another for violation of some law or penal statute.

Spyverb

To gain sight of; to discover at a distance, or in a state of concealment; to espy; to see.

‘One, in reading, skipped over all sentences where he spied a note of admiration.’;

Informernoun

one who reveals confidential information in return for money

Spyverb

To discover by close search or examination.

‘Look about with your eyes; spy what things are to be reformed in the church of England.’;

Spyverb

To explore; to view, inspect, and examine secretly, as a country; - usually with out.

‘Moses sent to spy out Jaazer, and they took the villages thereof.’;

Spyverb

To search narrowly; to scrutinize.

‘It is my nature's plagueTo spy into abuses.’;

Spynoun

One who keeps a constant watch of the conduct of others.

Spynoun

A person sent secretly into an enemy's camp, territory, or fortifications, to inspect his works, ascertain his strength, movements, or designs, and to communicate such intelligence to the proper officer.

Spynoun

(military) a secret agent hired by a state to obtain information about its enemies or by a business to obtain industrial secrets from competitors

Spynoun

a secret watcher; someone who secretly watches other people;

‘my spies tell me that you had a good time last night’;

Spyverb

catch sight of

Spyverb

watch, observe, or inquire secretly

Spyverb

secretly collect sensitive or classified information; engage in espionage;

‘spy for the Russians’;