defection
Americannoun
-
desertion from allegiance, loyalty, duty, or the like; apostasy.
His defection to East Germany was regarded as treasonable.
- Antonyms:
- loyalty
-
failure; lack; loss.
He was overcome by a sudden defection of courage.
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of defection
1535–45; < Latin dēfectiōn- (stem of dēfectiō ), equivalent to dēfect ( us ) ( see defect) + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
Is your team so bad you have begun supporting a rival team? Then you're guilty of defection — the act of shifting your support to a new cause. Most people won't thank you for your defection. No matter how much you might believe in the new sports team, or political party, or whatever, defection is generally used as a critical term. Defection implies a lack of character — as you can tell by looking at its Latin roots, which come from the word defectionum, meaning "desertion, revolt, failure." Clearly, no one likes a defector.
Vocabulary lists containing defection
"Coming of Age in the Dawnland," Vocabulary from the historical excerpt
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My Brother Sam is Dead
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Mockingjay
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Defection to solar has been so fast and uncontrolled that Pakistan’s energy utilities are struggling with falling sales.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026
Defection from the mainstream is preferable to assimilation, and if the proverbial desert does not promise deliverance, it inspires a particular attunement.
From The New Yorker • Oct. 23, 2019
April 26 The Morning Line: Eskendereya’s Defection The Derby once again loses an early favorite to injury.
From New York Times • Apr. 27, 2010
Defection would mean losing all of these sure advantages for a doubtful future in a strange country.
From Time Magazine Archive
Defection from the Church was regarded by the state as quite as serious a crime as treason against itself.
From An Introduction to the History of Western Europe by Robinson, James Harvey
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
