betrayal

noun

be·​tray·​al bi-ˈtrā(-ə)l 

bē-

plural betrayals

1

: the act of betraying someone or something or the fact of being betrayed : violation of a person's trust or confidence, of a moral standard, etc.

the betrayal of a friend

a betrayal of trust

a betrayal of one's principles

A man who built his entire administration upon demanding unctuous loyalty from his allies now finds himself wounded by their shabby betrayal.

—Jack Hitt

The double life of an informant is a peculiar one, filled at the same time with tedium and betrayal.

—Karen Richardson

Even Jesus recognized that there was something paradoxical about his betrayal by Judas Iscariot—in three of the four canonical Gospels, with a kiss.

—David Gates

2

: revelation of something hidden or secret

a betrayal of one's true feelings

There was never doubt, never a betrayal of indecision.

—Jack London

… she had shrunk with irresistible dread from every course that could tend towards a betrayal of her miserable secret.

—George Eliot

Synonyms

• backstabbing
• business
• disloyalty
• double cross
• faithlessness
• falseness
• falsity
• infidelity
• perfidy
• sellout
• treachery
• treason
• two-timing
• unfaithfulness

Examples of betrayal in a Sentence

the terrible betrayal of having her best friend reveal her confidences to others

Recent Examples on the Web

Current employees may experience the change as betrayal, leading to serious motivation, productivity and retention issues. —Nancy Doyle, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025

Along with the glamorous guests, expect murder and betrayal to RSVP for a wedding with more twists and turns than the road from the Marina Grande to the Capri town square. —Glenn Garner, Deadline, 11 Jan. 2025

Thanks to bribery and betrayal, the letter found its way to the perpetually angry Wild Bill Hickman, who decides to take his anger out on Wolsey by whipping him in front of the rest of the Nauvoo Legion. —Keith Phipps, Vulture, 10 Jan. 2025

The movie also circles around themes of loss, betrayal, unrequited love, and loneliness — but it can easily be missed among the profuse amount of tinsel and blinking Christmas lights. —Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 6 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1788, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing betrayal

• self-betrayal