defector

[ dih-fek-ter ]

/ dɪˈfɛk tər /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR defector ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

Nearby words

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

Related formsnon·de·fec·tor, nounre·de·fec·tor, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for defector

Lankov and Delury make a commonsense point, but Jang, a defector to Seoul, maintains that Kim was removed from power last year.
Has North Korea’s Kim Jong Un Been Toppled?|Gordon G. Chang|October 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
According to one defector from Harun Yahya, Oktar had sex with all of the “sisters” in the group.
The Hedonistic, Possibly Holocaust-Denying Sect That’s Hoodwinking Republican Congressmen|Jay Michaelson|April 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Here was the most recognizable face of radical British politics—a defector.
Exclusive: Tommy Robinson, a Prominent British Voice of Hate, Apologizes|Nico Hines|October 11, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Snow Hunters by Paul Yoon A North Korean defector tries to capture peace in Brazil after the Korean War.
This Week’s Hot Reads: August 5, 2013|Nicholas Mancusi|August 5, 2013|DAILY BEAST

They just nabbed two defector army commanders—Hawil's colleagues—trying to raid an arms and ammunition depot in the city.
Libya Revolution's Hidden Power Players|Babak Dehghanpisheh|February 27, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Didn't hear that he had been—there was a defector named Oswald in the city of Dallas?
Warren Commission (4 of 26): Hearings Vol. IV (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
I felt pretty sure anyone that would be a defector they would probably give him a dishonorable discharge.
Warren Commission (8 of 26): Hearings Vol. VIII (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
Is it correct that now a defector does come within the scope of your Service?
Warren Commission (5 of 26): Hearings Vol. V (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
But there are only very few such as Mr. Oswald, or people in the defector category.
Warren Commission (5 of 26): Hearings Vol. V (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
But my question is now, is the defector per se classed as one of those against whom you would take protective measures?
Warren Commission (5 of 26): Hearings Vol. V (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy

Word Origin and History for defector

defector

1660s, agent noun in Latin form from defect, or else from Latin defector "revolter," agent noun from deficere (see deficient).

defector

noun

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Origin of defector

Examples from the Web for defector

Word Origin and History for defector

defector