turncoat

[turn-koht]

noun

1. a person who changes to the opposite party or faction, reverses principles, etc.; renegade.

turncoat

/ ˈtɜːnˌkəʊt /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of turncoat¹

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

Example Sentences

I have not been completely immune from such accusations, but the terms that have been used to describe me are far more incendiary: “Traitor,” “turncoat” and “terrorist sympathizer.”

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"The level is low, today they arrest someone and if he becomes a turncoat they arrest another... wretched low-level," he was quoted as saying over his wiretapped phone.

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Between dead drops and TOR, this meant unlike traditional drug rings, no one actually has to meet face-to-face, shielding the operation from undercovers, turncoats and stool pigeons.

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Eventually they squeezed into a hovel before being discovered by a turncoat cabinet member.

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The turncoat was not only defeated but humiliated.

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Related Words

• defector 
• informer