narK

Nark is a slang term with multiple related meanings in English, typically used in informal or pejorative contexts. The primary senses are as follows: a person who informs to the authorities about someone’s wrongdoing, an informant or tattletale; and a narcotics officer or drug enforcement agent, often shortened from narc or narcotics officer. As a verb, to nark on someone means to inform on them to the police or other authorities.

Etymology and regional variation are not precisely agreed upon. The sense relating to informing likely derives from the word narcotic or narcotics officer, while the noun form may have broadened in popular slang to include any whistleblower or snitch. Uses of nark are most common in British English and some Commonwealth varieties, with the related term narc more prevalent in North American English. The word can carry strong negative connotations and is generally considered informal or insulting when applied to a person.

In cultural usage, nark often appears in crime stories, folklore about informants, and everyday slang. It can describe someone who betrays friends or reveals sensitive information to authorities, as well as refer to a law-enforcement official in harsher, colloquial speech. Related terms include snitch, tattletale, and narc, though each carries its own nuances and level of formality.

Notes: Because of its pejorative undertone, the term nark should be used with caution, particularly in mixed company or formal writing.