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

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

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Reform, which has one MS after the defection of Laura Ann Jones, said it would not support a budget that continues to fund the Nation of Sanctuary policy.

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Calls from the opposition for the military and security forces to abandon President Maduro have so far not produced significant defections.

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But Badenoch dismissed the announcement of the defections as "a stunt".

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Nigel Farage's party has been using the third day of the conference to announce a string of councillor defections to Reform UK.

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Related Words

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