betrayal

American  

[bih-trey-uhl] / bɪˈtreɪ əl /

noun

betrayals plural

1. the act of exposing or delivering someone to an enemy through treachery or disloyalty.

   This security leak was an inexcusable betrayal of an ally whose very existence is now threatened.

2. the act of disappointing a person’s trust, hopes, or expectations.

   Imagine what a betrayal it is each time a rape victim finds out that her fellow citizens, and our legal system, are just not there for her.

3. the act of revealing information in violation of confidence.

   The library, which carried books criticizing the regime, was kept in private homes and frequently had to be moved to avoid betrayal of its secret to the local authorities.

4. failure to keep or honor a promise, principle, cherished memory, etc..

   Many of his constituents are unhappy with his promotion of new mining and logging initiatives, seeing it as a betrayal of his green ideals.

5. an act or instance of unconsciously revealing or displaying some quality or characteristic, typically one preferably concealed.

   A slight tremor in her hand was the only betrayal of her fear.

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Usage

What does betrayal mean? Betrayal is when someone you trust breaks that trust by doing something that hurts you. This can take many forms, such as a soldier working with the enemy, one family member stealing from another, or a friend spreading rumors about another friend. Betrayal is the noun form of the verb betray, which means to be disloyal or traitorous. A specific act of disloyalty is a betrayal, as in The businessman never forgave his partner’s betrayal of joining his hated rival’s company. Betrayal is also used to describe how you reveal something unconsciously, like how a blush betrays embarrassment. An act is only considered a betrayal if it violates an existing trust. The word typically implies a serious violation of trust that causes serious harm. Example: The knights’ betrayal of their king helped the invaders win the war.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• prebetrayal
  noun
• self-betrayal
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• betrayals
  plural

Etymology

Origin of betrayal

betray ( def. ) + -al ² ( def. )

Explanation

Betrayal means "an act of deliberate disloyalty," like when your friend told other people all your secrets. What a betrayal! Betrayal's root is betray, which comes from the Middle English word bitrayen — meaning "mislead, deceive." Betrayal has to do with destroying someone's trust, possibly by lying. If you start dating your best friend's girlfriend behind his back, that's an act of betrayal. Betrayal can also mean "helping an enemy," such as a person who gives secret information to a country that is at war with his or her own.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

betrayal betrayals

The decision Friday represents the latest chapter in a decadelong saga that often unfolded like a K-drama—with money, romance, corruption and betrayal.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

Klopp's reputation has suffered in Germany since he joined Red Bull as head of global soccer in 2024, in a move many fans saw as a betrayal.

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

That’s why that adage about living well being the best revenge tends to be offered to the party on the losing end of a betrayal.

From Salon ● Jul. 19, 2026

Amos’ moody 1994 track about betrayal and shifting loyalties within female friendships doesn’t immediately suggest a homecoming sequence.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 3, 2026

It would have felt like a betrayal, saying all that to Lucinda.

From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

At the film’s aching core is the romantic tether between the boys that refuses to die even in the face of gory attacks, painful betrayals and even uncertainty among the two of them.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 17, 2026

What began as friendly advice became, in hindsight, one of the sharpest betrayals in music business history.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 20, 2026

The latest series of The Traitors is coming to an end after weeks of wild accusations, wilder betrayals and Claudia Winkleman's devious looks-to-camera.

From BBC ● Jan. 23, 2026

"It's still not really clear what happened...What is clear is that there were many betrayals," he added -- pointing to implausible failures in Maduro's defenses.

From Barron's ● Jan. 10, 2026

Blind to betrayals and heartbreak, and always stubborn, no matter how gently she tried to explain.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

Related Words

• deception
• dishonesty
• sellout
• treachery
• treason