defector

[ dih-fek-ter ]

noun

1. a person who defects from a cause, country, alliance, etc.

Other Words From

• nonde·fector noun
• rede·fector noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of defector¹

1655–65; < Latin dēfector renegade, rebel, equivalent to dēfec- (variant stem of dēficere to become disaffected, revolt, literally, to fail; defect ) + -tor -tor

Example Sentences

Trump has suggested he would use the U.S. military against average Americans, called his political opponents “enemies from within,” and this week evoked violence against Liz Cheney — a prominent Republican defector to Harris’ campaign — by saying she should be put in front of “nine barrels shooting at her.”

From Los Angeles Times

Ms Sturgess died three months after the attempted murders of Russian defector Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury using Novichok.

From BBC

South Korean police have detained a North Korean defector for attempting to cross the heavily-guarded border back to the North on a stolen bus.

From BBC

In January 2022, a defector in his 30s returned to North Korea after a year in the South.

From BBC

Ms Gabbard's comments came days after Trump received the endorsement of another Democratic defector, Robert F Kennedy Jr, who last week suspended his independent campaign for the White House.

From BBC

Related Words

• deserter
• renegade
• turncoat