traitor
Americannoun
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a person who betrays another person, a cause, or any trust.
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a person who commits treason by betraying their country.
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of traitor
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English from Old French from Latin trāditōr-, stem of trāditor “betrayer”; see traditor
Explanation
A traitor says one thing but does another. If you promise a friend you'll keep his secret, but instead you blab it to everyone, you're a traitor. The word origin says it all: traditorem is the Latin word for "betrayer." Liar? Yes. Backstabber? Yes. True friend? Heavens, no. Traitors betray the trust of those who have faith in them or believe their promises. Traitor also applies to a person who betrays his country by committing treason: turning against his own government, perhaps by selling secret information.
Vocabulary lists containing traitor
The Watsons Go to Birmingham
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The American Revolution - Introductory
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"Macbeth" Vocabulary from Act IV
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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.
So he joins a slim minority in accusing Rinna, Underwood’s favored Traitor candidate – and the right suspect, finally – risking his trusted place among the small circle of the guilty.
From Salon • Jan. 28, 2026
In this poisonous time, those who grin at the notion of playing a Traitor may think twice about the potential cost to their principles.
From Salon • Jan. 28, 2026
However, that also means that every Faithful banished by the majority vote of their peers takes a fall that could have eliminated a Traitor.
From Salon • Jan. 15, 2026
While Fiona's time in the castle was short lived, the 62-year-old left jaws on the floor after her very public run in with fellow traitor, Rachel, when she called her out as a Traitor.
From BBC • Jan. 10, 2026
Guilt pumped through my veins as his perturbed face read, Traitor.
From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas
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.
