traitor

[ trey-ter ]

noun

1. a person who betrays another person, a cause, or any trust.
2. a person who commits treason by betraying their country.

traitor

/ ˈtreɪtə /

noun

1. a person who is guilty of treason or treachery, in betraying friends, country, a cause or trust, etc

Derived Forms

• ˈtraitorous, adjective
• ˈtraitorˌship, noun
• ˈtraitress, noun:feminine
• ˈtraitorously, adverb

Other Words From

• traitor·ship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of traitor¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English from Old French from Latin trāditōr-, stem of trāditor “betrayer”; traditor

Word History and Origins

Origin of traitor¹

C13: from Old French traitour , from Latin trāditor traditor

Example Sentences

The person allegedly blasted the officer’s photo on her Facebook and Instagram accounts, calling them a fascist “pig” and a traitor to their race.

From Los Angeles Times

His enemies regard him as a traitor who sold his soul to France, while others recognise him as a literary genius of whom the country should be proud.

From BBC

When a photo later appeared in the paper showing him shaking hands with then Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams a sign was placed at the end of his street calling him a traitor.

From BBC

After the "foreign influence" law was passed during the summer, in the face of mass protests in the centre of Tbilisi and other big cities, he says he was personally labelled by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze as a state traitor.

From BBC

Harris is a red-blooded patriot, and Trump is a yellow-bellied traitor.

From Salon

Related Words

• conspirator
• deserter
• hypocrite
• impostor
• informer
• renegade
• spy
• turncoat