noun
blower
A person who reveals secret information or wrongdoing.
The old account called the informer a blower.
Etymology
Blow acquired slang senses of exposing or betraying a secret. With the person-forming ending -er, blower names someone who does that, including an informer or someone revealing wrongdoing.
More examples
- The corrupt official feared that a blower would expose the scheme.
- In the story, the blower passed secret details to investigators.
- The glossary identified blower as a term for someone who reveals information.
Forms
blower · blowers
Similar words
- informer
- Informer supplies information, often secretly; blower is an uncommon slang label in this sense.
- whistleblower
- Whistleblower specifically exposes wrongdoing; blower alone is rarer and can refer more broadly to an informer.