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

Eventually they squeezed into a hovel before being discovered by a turncoat cabinet member.

From Salon

The turncoat was not only defeated but humiliated.

From Salon

Drug Enforcement Administration agent, they alleged, was a turncoat on the take from the Buffalo Mafia, offering an “umbrella of protection” that derailed investigations of his childhood friends, covered for a sex-trafficking strip club and even helped a connected high school English teacher keep his marijuana-growing side hustle.

From Seattle Times

Kremlin political critics, turncoat spies and investigative journalists have been killed or assaulted in a variety of way s.

From Seattle Times

Over the years, Kremlin political critics, turncoat spies and investigative journalists have been killed or assaulted in a variety of ways.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• defector
• informer