turncoat

[ turn-koht ]
See synonyms for turncoat on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a person who changes to the opposite party or faction, reverses principles, etc.; renegade.

Origin of turncoat

1
First recorded in 1550–60; origin uncertain; possibly from the practice hiding one's allegiance by turning one's coat inside out and covering one's party colors, military insignia, or heraldic badges; turn + coat

Words Nearby turncoat

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use turncoat in a sentence

  • The reader now knows that the pity thus bestowed upon that pitiful fox-hunting turncoat was utterly thrown away.

  • Mr. Scott is an honest man, and naturally thinks me a hypocrite and turncoat as well as a fool.

  • He had no desire to be addressed by his name before this precarious mob already mad with rage at a turncoat.

    The City of Delight | Elizabeth Miller
  • Why, 'tis the man who allowed the rebels to seize Southsea Castle, the same who was hand in glove with the turncoat, Goring.

    The Young Cavalier | Percy F. Westerman
  • He realized the weight of misery this pathetic turncoat might expect thereafter at the hands of Britt and his crew of “Busters.”

British Dictionary definitions for turncoat

turncoat

/ (ˈtɜːnˌkəʊt) /


noun
  1. a person who deserts one cause or party for the opposite faction; renegade

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012