defector
Americannoun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of defector
1655–65; < Latin dēfector renegade, rebel, equivalent to dēfec- (variant stem of dēficere to become disaffected, revolt, literally, to fail; see defect) + -tor -tor
Explanation
A person who quits something, despite a perceived duty or obligation, is a defector. If you abandon the Boston Red Sox to root for the New York Yankees instead, your fellow Bostonians will consider you a defector. In politics, defectors abandon their home countries and claim allegiance to another. A person can only be a defector if the first state forbids such a change and considers it illegal or illegitimate, as the government of North Korea does when one of its citizens leaves the country. Abandoning a military post also makes someone a defector. In your life, you're more likely to be considered a defector (by some) if you change political parties or stop being a vegetarian.
Vocabulary lists containing defector
Selection Vocabulary 1, Unit 6
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocabulary for July 15–July 21, 2023
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocabulary for June 17–June 23, 2023
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Chae, the defector, said her hope was that the North's isolated people are not one day simply forgotten by the outside world.
From Barron's ● Sep. 28, 2026
But Ian McCredie, MI6’s undercover agent in the embassy, quickly concluded that the Russian was a genuine defector with access to invaluable intelligence about KGB operations in Iran.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026
Mr. Magyar, a defector from Fidesz, campaigned hard on the economy, which grew a mere 0.4% in 2025.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 12, 2026
Meanwhile, another recent Tory defector, Suella Braverman, has been handed the education and skills brief, with deputy leader Richard Tice given a new role combining business, trade and energy policy.
From BBC ● Feb. 17, 2026
But of course, Cara was the only well-known defector from Erudite at that time, the only person Peter would have known to ask for help.
From "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
