insider

noun

in·​sid·​er (ˌ)in-ˈsī-dər 

ˈin-ˌsī-

: a person recognized or accepted as a member of a group, category, or organization: such as

a

: a person who is in a position of power or has access to confidential information

b

: a person (such as an officer or director) who is in a position to have special knowledge of the affairs of or to influence the decisions of a company

Examples of insider in a Sentence

Political insiders say that she is planning to run for president.

The book gives fans an insider's view of Hollywood.

Recent Examples on the Web

Hospital leaders are most immediately concerned about the impacts of federal policy changes to immigration enforcement and gender-affirming care for children, according to health care insiders. —Katy Golvala, Hartford Courant, 18 Feb. 2025

Want to hear our Vogue Beauty experts’ insider knowledge on the latest beauty trends? —Audrey Noble, Vogue, 18 Feb. 2025

An insider close to the company told IndieWire on Tuesday that all layoff decisions were made by Alamo Drafthouse, not by parent company Sony Pictures Entertainment. IndieWire has reached out to representatives for both Sony and Alamo Drafthouse for further comment. —Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 18 Feb. 2025

The Bureau of Fiscal Services recommends that DOGE’s access to Treasury’s payments system be monitored as an insider threat. —Kori Schake, The Atlantic, 15 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing insider

• insider trading

Kids Definition

insider

noun

in·​sid·​er (ˈ)in-ˈsīd-ər 

: a person who is a member of a special group or organization

Legal Definition

insider

noun

in·​sid·​er

: a person who is in a position of power or has access to confidential information: as

a

: one (as an officer, director, employee, relative, or owner of more than 10% of the corporation's stock) who is in a position to have special knowledge of the affairs of or to influence the decisions of a company

b

: an individual (as a relative or an influential party) or entity (as a corporate affiliate) having a close relationship with a debtor such that transactions are not made at arm's length and are subject to closer scrutiny than the transactions of those dealing at arm's length