defection

[ dih-fek-shuhn ]

/ dɪˈfɛk ʃən /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR defection ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

desertion from allegiance, loyalty, duty, or the like; apostasy: His defection to East Germany was regarded as treasonable.

failure; lack; loss: He was overcome by a sudden defection of courage.

Words nearby defection

defeatist, defeature, defecate, defect, defectible, defection, defective, defective bacteriophage, defective virus, defective year, defector

Origin of defection

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

ANTONYMS FOR defection

1 loyalty.

SEE ANTONYMS FOR defection ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM defection

non·de·fec·tion, nounre·de·fec·tion, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Examples from the Web for defection

At the time of his defection, he felt a strong need to get out of Cuba, and accomplished just that.
Cuban Hip-Hop Was Born in Alamar|Daniel Levin|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But Habib has yet to appear publicly, and Syrian state media denied the defection, insisting that Habib was still at home.
Fearful of a U.S. Strike, Defectors Flee the Syrian Army|Mike Giglio|September 5, 2013|DAILY BEAST
A leader in the movement, Picciolini was able to frame his defection as a retirement.
Derek Black, the Reluctant Racist, and His Exit From White Nationalism|Caitlin Dickson|July 29, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Kristol's defection from the pro-plutocracy wing of the GOP is an interesting indicator that, yes, change is in the air.
Rejecting the Journal's Plutocratic Tax Advice|David Frum|December 10, 2012|DAILY BEAST

That defection sparked a massive political crisis the party has desperately wanted to resolve before the leadership transition.
Communist Party Expels Bo Xilai, Who Now Faces Trial|Dan Levin|September 28, 2012|DAILY BEAST
On the 8th, there was a defection of a different kind, but yet sensible.
A Footnote to History|Robert Louis Stevenson
Yet it may well be that in his defection we have to see a stage in the transition from Welf to Guelf.
Dante: His Times and His Work|Arthur John Butler
After Uchida's defection old Kano remained constantly at home.
The Dragon Painter|Mary McNeil Fenollosa
Plunkett, having heard of this, promptly took measures to avert the defection of his good friends on the Run.
The Graysons|Edward Eggleston
She thought her Italian possessions secure, even in case of the defection of the Sardinian king.
The Empire of Austria; Its Rise and Present Power|John S. C. Abbott

British Dictionary definitions for defection

defection

/ (dɪˈfɛkʃən) /

noun

the act or an instance of defecting

abandonment of duty, allegiance, principles, etc; backsliding

another word for defect (def. 1), defect (def. 2)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

defection

noun

Words related to defection

Words nearby defection

Origin of defection

ANTONYMS FOR defection

OTHER WORDS FROM defection

Examples from the Web for defection

British Dictionary definitions for defection

noun