defected

[dih-fek-tid]

adjective

1. having deserted a country, cause, etc., especially in order to adopt another.

   In the movie White Nights, a defected Soviet dancer is returned to his motherland when the plane he’s on is forced to land in Russia.

2. defective.

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of defect.

Word History and Origins

Origin of defected¹

First recorded in 1585–95; defect + -ed ² ( def. ) for the adjective senses; defect + -ed ¹ ( def. ) for the verb sense

Example Sentences

The party has been losing support to Reform, and some former Conservatives MPs - and one current one - have defected to Nigel Farage's party.

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Kruger, who defected from the Conservatives last week, said that was not the case but told the BBC that "prioritising UK citizens" and culture was necessary.

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A Labour councillor has defected to Reform UK after expressing concerns about the party's vision.

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A lawyer and former prosecutor, who defected from the Conservatives to Reform UK in June, she says she entered politics to improve outcomes for the victims of crime.

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Jones was elected for the Conservatives in 2021 to serve South Wales East - she defected at the Royal Welsh Show in the summer.

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Related Words

• abandon 
• abscond 
• depart 
• desert 
• pull out 
• quit 
• reject 
• renounce 
• revolt 
• withdraw