traitor

noun

trai·​tor ˈtrā-tər 

1

: one who betrays another's trust or is false to an obligation or duty

2

: one who commits treason

Synonyms

• apostate
• backstabber
• betrayer
• double-crosser
• double-dealer
• Judas
• quisling
• recreant
• serpent
• snake
• turncoat

Examples of traitor in a Sentence

She has been called a traitor to the liberal party's cause.

He was a traitor who betrayed his country by selling military secrets to the enemy.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Traitors season 3 cast portraits revealed (exclusive) With 21 contestants and a mysterious number of traitors among them, it's bound to be a rollicking good time. —Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 18 Dec. 2024

Advertisement The same applies to UCLA and USC, traitors who destroyed the Pac-12, and are now condemned to fighting for seventh place every year in the Big Ten. —Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2024

After dozens of governing party lawmakers joined the opposition to impeach President Park Geun-hye in 2016 on charges of corruption and abuse of power, they were branded as traitors in their conservative constituencies. —Choe Sang-Hun, New York Times, 12 Dec. 2024

Then messages start arriving by mail, and an MI5 agent implies their mother was a traitor. —Yvonne Zipp, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English traytour, from Anglo-French traitre, from Latin traditor, from tradere to hand over, deliver, betray, from trans-, tra- trans- + dare to give — more at date

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing traitor

• turn traitor

Kids Definition

traitor

noun

trai·​tor ˈtrāt-ər 

1

: one who betrays another's trust or is false to an obligation or duty

2

: one who commits treason

Etymology

Middle English traitre "traitor," from early French traitre (same meaning), from Latin traditor (same meaning), derived from tradere "to hand over, betray" — related to treason see Word History at treason