turncoat
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of turncoat
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But that’s not quite right either: Pointing a finger at Tortora—as a dozen or so turncoat Camorristas will ultimately do—comes with benefits.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 19, 2026
The turncoat was not only defeated but humiliated.
From Salon • Feb. 24, 2024
Fish and Wildlife Service and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources have employed a new seek-and-destroy strategy that uses turncoat carp to lead them to the fish’s hotspot hideouts.
From Seattle Times • Nov. 18, 2023
These specialists, unfortunately, arrive with several question marks, like the team’s sickly, retired engineer and a self-absorbed turncoat.
From New York Times • Mar. 24, 2023
Like all Confederate sympathizers, Booth views the Tennessee politician as a turncoat for siding with the Union and Lincoln.
From "Lincoln's Last Days: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever" by Bill O'Reilly
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
