leaker

A "leaker" can be a simple, literal thing: a pipe, roof, bottle, diaper, or machine part that lets liquid or gas escape when it should not. In everyday talk, someone might say, "This old bottle is a leaker," or "We found a leaker under the sink." But the word is also often used for a person who shares secret information. In that sense, it usually means an insider who gives private company news, government material, or unreleased product details to other people, often reporters or people online. Depending on the situation, that person may be seen as harmful, helpful, or somewhere in between.

The term "leaker" most broadly means a person or thing that leaks. In the most literal sense, it can describe any object that lets something escape through a hole, crack, or bad seal. A mechanic might call a tire, hose, or tank a leaker. In a home, the word could be used for a pipe, roof, or container that keeps dripping. In these cases, the meaning is plain: something is not holding in liquid or gas the way it should.

The word is also widely used for a person who reveals confidential, sensitive, or classified information to people who were not supposed to receive it. That information might include government secrets, company data, private messages, or details about products that have not been announced yet. In this sense, the person usually had some access to the information and then chose to pass it on to a reporter, a rival, the public, or an online community.

The feeling of the word changes with the context. In politics, law, or business, it often sounds negative because it suggests broken trust, rule-breaking, or even a crime. In journalism or public debate, though, the same person may be seen more positively if the disclosure exposes wrongdoing or matters of public interest; in those cases, people may prefer the word "whistleblower." In tech, entertainment, and gaming, the word is common for people who post early details, images, or plans before an official release. So "leaker" can describe either a faulty thing that lets something out or a person who lets hidden information out.