defector

American  

[dih-fek-ter] / dɪˈfɛk tər /

noun

1. a person who defects from a cause, country, alliance, etc.

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Other Word Forms

• nondefector noun
• redefector noun

Etymology

Origin of defector

1655–65; < Latin dēfector renegade, rebel, equivalent to dēfec- (variant stem of dēficere to become disaffected, revolt, literally, to fail; defect ) + -tor -tor

Example Sentences

Just two others who were granted sanctuary have stayed behind as defectors.

From BBC

It means that, of the seven who initially said they wanted to stay in Australia, only three now remain as defectors.

From BBC

Iran’s arsenal of jets got a boost from defectors from Iraq during the two countries’ bitter war.

From The Wall Street Journal

Song Hyun-jin, who interviewed more than 120 North Korean defectors about women's leadership in the regime, says it's no longer rare to see women managing factories and filling party seats in North Korea.

From BBC

Still, defectors often say the hardest thing about transitioning to the outside world is shedding their idolization of Kim.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• deserter
• renegade
• turncoat