defector

[dih-fek-ter]

noun

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

Other Word Forms

• nondefector noun
• redefector noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of defector¹

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

Fellow defector Brett Rosehill said other councillors had switched parties and this was the first time demands had been made for a by-election.

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In the past few hours, Farage's party has unveiled a further 20 Tory defectors on local councils.

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On Nov. 18, as Ryan’s plane was about to depart with cult defectors, one of cult leader Jim Jones’ followers assassinated the congressman.

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Could former Conservative cabinet minister Nadine Dorries - unveiled this week to much fanfare as Reform UK's latest Tory defector - be drafted into the Lords?

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Another Tory defector, Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire Andrea Jenkyns, told me she believed three more former Conservative MPs were in talks to join Reform.

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Related Words

• deserter 
• renegade 
• turncoat