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

Other Word Forms

• traitorous adjective
• traitorship noun
• traitress noun
• traitorously adverb

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

This remains the case when Andy encounters the slimy remains of Rook, the derelict vessel’s android science officer who looks exactly like Ash, the series’ first android traitor introduced in 1979’s “Alien.”

From Salon

Just as Halimi had worried, they accused him of being a thief and traitor, which could be like a death sentence for anyone connected to him back home.

From Salon

If any traitors remain at the end, they win the cash prize.

From BBC

Hailed by some as a hero and scorned by others as a traitor, Hong Kong's pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai is in the final stage of his national security trial.

From BBC

One radio colleague branded her a traitor for defecting to television.

From BBC

Related Words

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