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

She also denied she was "looking over her shoulder" at Nigel Farage, after recent defections from her party to Reform UK.

From BBC

There were no new defections during the vote on Wednesday, but if five more Democrats break ranks, the shutdown will end – whether the rest of the Democratic Party wants it to or not.

From BBC

There were no immediate roster defections, Skipper saying that every player was accounted for going into one of the team’s longest practices of the season.

From Los Angeles Times

He has previously indicated there would not be a by-election in the wake of his defection and has now confirmed this when speaking to BBC Points West.

From BBC

The latest defection comes after Danny Kruger, who sat on Tory leader Kemi Badenoch's team as a shadow work and pensions minister, became the first sitting Tory MP to defect on Monday.

From BBC

Related Words

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