defection
noun
de·fec·tion
di-ˈfek-shən 
: conscious abandonment of allegiance or duty (as to a person, cause, or doctrine) : desertion
Examples of defection in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The wave of deaths has played to the advantage of House Republicans, whose razor-thin majority has been padded by the vacancies, allowing GOP leaders to absorb more defections on difficult votes.
—
Amie Parnes, The Hill, 27 May 2025
Johnson can only afford to lose three GOP defections and currently there are enough lawmakers signaling opposition to stop the bill from advancing to the Senate.
—Lauren Peller, ABC News, 14 May 2025
The defection made room for another Southern California horse, Baeza.
—John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2025
With their slim leads in both the House and Senate, Republicans can afford just a few defections.
—David Folkenflik, NPR, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for defection
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Amie Parnes, The Hill, 27 May 2025
Johnson can only afford to lose three GOP defections and currently there are enough lawmakers signaling opposition to stop the bill from advancing to the Senate.
—Lauren Peller, ABC News, 14 May 2025
The defection made room for another Southern California horse, Baeza.
—John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2025
With their slim leads in both the House and Senate, Republicans can afford just a few defections.
—David Folkenflik, NPR, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for defection
Cite this Entry
“Defection.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defection. Accessed 24 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share