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.

Last month, Russian-born tennis player Daria Kasatkina announced she had defected from her home country and become an Australian citizen because she is openly queer.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2025

Oswald, an ex-Marine who happened to be an avowed Marxist, had defected to the Soviet Union in October 1959.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 21, 2023

The North claimed he had defected, though Pyongyang refused a request by the United Nations Command to meet him.

From Reuters • Jul. 19, 2023

We spoke to a former officer who had defected from the Syrian army.

From BBC • Jun. 26, 2023

Later, Celia would learn with sadness that the girl had defected while on tour in Oaxaca and was playing a psychotic housewife on a popular Mexican novela.

From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García