defection

[dih-fek-shuhn]

noun

1. desertion from allegiance, loyalty, duty, or the like; apostasy.

   His defection to East Germany was regarded as treasonable.

   Antonyms: loyalty

2. failure; lack; loss.

   He was overcome by a sudden defection of courage.

defection

/ dɪˈfɛkʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of defecting

2. abandonment of duty, allegiance, principles, etc; backsliding

3. another word for defect defect

Other Word Forms

• nondefection noun
• redefection noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of defection¹

1535–45; < Latin dēfectiōn- (stem of dēfectiō ), equivalent to dēfect ( us ) ( defect ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

Less than three months after the audit letter, in early April, the museum’s director suddenly resigned, and trustee defections began.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The resistance rages that he failed to hold the line against defections.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Customer defections prompted several pay-TV companies to find a compromise to restore the darkened TV channels and stanch the subscriber bleeding.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A short, sharp campaign that dismantles the regime’s coercive tools could trigger elite defection.

Read more on Salon

If the prime purpose of this military build-up is to threaten Maduro, it is unclear whether it is enough to prompt defections.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• desertion 
• divorce 
• failure 
• rejection 
• revolt 
• withdrawal