defected

American  

[dih-fek-tid] / dɪˈfɛk tɪd /

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.

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verb

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

Etymology

Origin of defected

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

Example Sentences

Graham Simpson, who defected from the Scottish Conservatives to Reform UK, backed his party leader, saying he had not seen the joke, adding: "I don't want to see it."

From BBC

He appeared on stage with Michael Holt, the conservative group leader on Babergh council, who announced he had defected to Reform.

From BBC

Their families at home would have suffered had they defected to the West.

From The Wall Street Journal

Offord, a former Conservative minister who defected from the Tories in December, is standing for the party in Inverclyde, where he grew up.

From BBC

The Christian-majority force consisted of defected Lebanese army officers and soldiers, as well as recruits from the area, and was loyal to Israel.

From Barron's

Related Words

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