turncoat

[turn-koht]

noun

1. a person who changes to the opposite party or faction, reverses principles, etc.; renegade.

turncoat

/ ˈtɜːnˌkəʊt /

noun

1. a person who deserts one cause or party for the opposite faction; renegade

Word History and Origins

Origin of turncoat¹

First recorded in 1550–60; origin uncertain; possibly from the practice hiding one's allegiance by turning one's coat inside out and covering one's party colors, military insignia, or heraldic badges; turn + coat

Example Sentences

She was a “turncoat and a female Benedict Arnold.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Sunday night, eight turncoat Democrats sold out every American who pays for their own health insurance through the affordable marketplaces set up by President Obama.

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I have not been completely immune from such accusations, but the terms that have been used to describe me are far more incendiary: “Traitor,” “turncoat” and “terrorist sympathizer.”

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"The level is low, today they arrest someone and if he becomes a turncoat they arrest another... wretched low-level," he was quoted as saying over his wiretapped phone.

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Between dead drops and TOR, this meant unlike traditional drug rings, no one actually has to meet face-to-face, shielding the operation from undercovers, turncoats and stool pigeons.

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Related Words

• defector 
• informer