deserter

American  

[dih-zur-ter] / dɪˈzɜr tər /

noun

1. a soldier or draftee who leaves or runs away from service or duty with the intention of never returning.

   Deserters from the rebel army tell of low morale among its remaining fighters.

2. a person who fails to uphold a cause or who abandons someone else, especially in violation of a promise or obligation.

   Some of those remaining in the home country view emigrants living abroad as deserters from their mother culture.

   A family deserter is one who can but will not support a spouse or dependents.

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Other Word Forms

• predeserter noun

Etymology

Origin of deserter

desert ² ( def. ) + -er ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

The mass demonstration follows a recent crackdown on ultra-Orthodox draft dodgers, with thousands of call-up notices ignored in recent months and several deserters imprisoned.

From Barron's

He then decided to flee the country with the help of a volunteer organisation for deserters.

From BBC

But the labor minister, Kim Moon-soo, said not only might that violate national and international law, but it would result in more deserters.

From Los Angeles Times

French investigating magistrates collected evidence from Syrian regime deserters and prison survivors as they built the case.

From Seattle Times

That night, he will comb his hair and go out to a bar with other deserters, to pass a few sparkling hours as a normal guy.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• defector
• escapee
• lawbreaker