treachery

[trech-uh-ree]

noun

plural

treacheries 

1. violation of faith; betrayal of trust; treason.

   Antonyms: loyalty

2. an act of perfidy, faithlessness, or treason.

treachery

/ ˈtrɛtʃərɪ /

noun

1. the act or an instance of wilful betrayal

2. the disposition to betray

Word History and Origins

Origin of treachery¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English trecherie, from Middle French, Old French, from trech(ier) “to deceive” ( trick ) + -erie -ery

Word History and Origins

Origin of treachery¹

C13: from Old French trecherie , from trechier to cheat; compare _trick

Synonym Study

See disloyalty.

Example Sentences

If Edward Ashton had planned a final act of treachery, the time to attempt it was now.

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Far-right group Britain First claimed responsibility for the incident, saying they "teamed up with local Salford patriots" to protest against the "treachery of Gary Neville".

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After the footage of her berating fellow councillors and using expletives was leaked to the Guardian earlier this month, Ms Kemkaran said the culprits had committed an act of "treachery".

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She branded the culprits "cowards" who had committed an act of "treachery".

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Reform UK has suspended four councillors after the leak, with Kemkaran branding those behind what happened "cowards" who had committed an act of "treachery".

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Related Words

• betrayal 
• infidelity 
• treason