English Reference

Word

fink

US/ˈfɪŋk/

UK/fˈɪŋk/

Definition

n. someone who tells a secret to the police or a boss to get others in trouble. It is a very negative word for a person who betrays their friends or group.

n. an informer or someone who betrays a group's secrets to an authority figure. Often carries a strong pejorative connotation of disloyalty within a social or criminal circle.

Examples

“Nobody likes a fink who tells on their friends.”

“The gang suspected there was a fink among them after the police arrived exactly when the shipment was delivered.”

“In the high-stakes world of corporate espionage, being labeled a fink can end a career more quickly than any official legal reprimand ever could.”

Examples

simple

“Nobody likes a fink who tells on their friends.”

contextual

“The gang suspected there was a fink among them after the police arrived exactly when the shipment was delivered.”

complex

“In the high-stakes world of corporate espionage, being labeled a fink can end a career more quickly than any official legal reprimand ever could.”

Usage

Informal and derogatory; frequently used in mid-20th century American English contexts.

This entry

Level
C2 · Proficiency
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

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English Reference