defection

American  

[dih-fek-shuhn] / dɪˈfɛk ʃən /

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.

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defection British  

/ dɪˈfɛkʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of defecting

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

3. another word for defect defect

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Other Word Forms

• nondefection noun
• redefection noun

Etymology

Origin of defection

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

Example Sentences

Carney, who leads a minority government, has been closing in on a majority in recent months - largely helped by recent defections by three former Conservative members of parliament.

From BBC

Carney has been able to get so close to a majority, in part, due to recent defections by three former Conservative members of parliament.

From BBC

Yet, Iranian security forces have not shown signs of fracturing, or large-scale defections.

From The Wall Street Journal

Mass defections from the regime, should they happen, could change the equation.

From The Wall Street Journal

Whitford's defection came a day after he voted with his Reform UK colleagues to pass the party's first county council budget after it took control of the authority after May's local elections.

From BBC

Related Words

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