defection

[dih-fek-shuhn]

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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.

Origin of defection

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

Related formsnon·de·fec·tion, nounre·de·fec·tion, noun

Antonyms for defection

1. loyalty.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for defection

rejection, divorce, revolt, failure, desertion, withdrawal, repudiation, failing, disloyalty, alienation, severance, dereliction, lack, rebellion, deficiency, estrangement, retreat, separation, disaffection, tergiversation

Examples from the Web for defection

Contemporary Examples of 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
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
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
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
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

Historical Examples of defection

Who would have returned as you have returned to advise me of the defection of my grooms?
The Shame of Motley
Raphael Sabatini
Not only by defection of our own, but by the force of arms of another.
Love-at-Arms
Raphael Sabatini
The defection of his old instructor in wood-lore disturbed him.
The Vagrant Duke
George Gibbs
He thought not; indeed, she did not seem to retain any memory of his defection.
Davenport Dunn, Volume 2 (of 2)
Charles James Lever
What would make their defection more certain was the irregularity of pay.
The Siege of Boston
Allen French

British Dictionary definitions for defection

defection

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

Word Origin and History for defection

1540s, "action of failing;" 1550s, "action of deserting a party, leader, etc." from Latin defectionem (nominative defectio) "desertion, revolt, failure," noun of action from past participle stem of deficere (see deficient). Originally used often of faith.