defecting
Abandoning one's allegiance
Defecting is the act of abandoning a country, cause, or group to join an opposing one.
The word typically implies betrayal of allegiance—a soldier defecting to the enemy, a spy defecting during the Cold War, a politician defecting to a rival party.
Three diplomats were caught defecting to the West.
The term carries connotations of disloyalty, though defectors themselves may frame their actions as principled.
One who betrays allegiance
- renegadeDeserter of a cause
- apostateOne who renounces faith
- quislingTreasonous occupation collaborator
- collaboratorOne who works jointly
fifth columnist · double agent · traitor · deserter · dissident · exile · expatriate · refugee
Unlawful abandonment of duty
- deserterOne who abandons duty
- AWOLAbsent without permission
- treasonBetraying one's nation
- court-martialArmed forces judicial proceeding
abandonment · flee · surrender · mutiny · sedition · insubordination · dishonorable · oath-breaking
Deliberate violation of trust
- disloyaltyBreach of allegiance
- backstabbingCovert betrayal of trust
- double-crossTreacherous deception of partner
- perfidyDeliberate breach of trust
deception · betrayer · Judas · rat · fink · snitch · informant · spy
Leaving permanently behind
- forsakingRenouncing or abandoning completely
- renouncingFormally abandoning a claim
- disowningFormally rejecting association
- repudiatingFormally refusing to acknowledge
abjuring · disaffiliating · leaving · departing · withdrawing · severing ties · estrangement · disavowal
turncoat
One who betrays allegiance
- renegadeDeserter of a cause
- apostateOne who renounces faith
- quislingTreasonous occupation collaborator
collaborator · fifth columnist · double agent · traitor · deserter · dissident · exile · expatriate · refugee · asylum
desertion
Unlawful abandonment of duty
court-martial · abandonment · flee · surrender · mutiny · sedition · insubordination · dishonorable · oath-breaking · regiment
treachery
Deliberate violation of trust
- disloyaltyBreach of allegiance
- backstabbingCovert betrayal of trust
- double-crossTreacherous deception of partner
perfidy · deception · betrayer · Judas · rat · fink · snitch · informant · spy · sellout
abandoning
Leaving permanently behind
- forsakingRenouncing or abandoning completely
- renouncingFormally abandoning a claim
- disowningFormally rejecting association
repudiating · abjuring · disaffiliating · leaving · departing · withdrawing · severing ties · estrangement · disavowal · rejection
defectingremaining
Still present after removal
staying true · keeping faith · adhering · persevering · committing
defectingjoining
Linking into one
enlisting · signing up · affiliating · aligning · allying
- defective productsItems with manufacturing flaws
- defective goodsItems with manufacturing flaws
- defective on arrivalBroken when shipped item reaches buyer
defective, defection, defectively, defections, defectiveness