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 president saw General Milley as a grandstander and a traitor. —Eric Schmitt, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2025

At the start of the season, host Alan Cumming picked three traitors at the roundtable, and immediately, Sandoval suspected Stause — quickly causing tension between the two. —Charna Flam, People.com, 22 Feb. 2025

With only two episodes left, faithful Britney Haynes has been recruited as the latest traitor. —Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2025

By the end of the hour, which traitor came out on top? —Nick Caruso, TVLine, 20 Feb. 2025

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

Rhymes for traitor

• cater
• crater
• frater
• freighter
• gator
• grater
• greater
• hater
• krater
• later
• plater
• prater

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