defection
Abandoning one's allegiance
Defection is the act of abandoning a cause, country, or allegiance—typically to join an opposing side.
The word implies betrayal: a spy's defection to an enemy nation, a politician's defection to a rival party.
Several members defected to the opposition after the scandal.
In game theory, defection means choosing self-interest over cooperation.
Unlawful abandonment of duty
- deserterOne who abandons duty
- AWOLAbsent without permission
- mutinyRevolt against authority
- abandonmentAct of leaving permanently
treason · court-martial · discharge · surrender · prisoner · conscription · collaborator · sabotage
One who betrays allegiance
- turncoatOne who betrays allegiance
- betrayalBreaking of trust
- treacheryDeliberate violation of trust
- disloyaltyBreach of allegiance
perfidy · double-cross · backstabber · sellout · renegade · quisling · deserter · faithlessness
Renunciation of former beliefs
- heresyBelief opposing official doctrine
- conversionAct of changing states
- renunciationFormal surrender of claim
- abjurationSworn repudiation of allegiance
recantation · disaffection · schism · excommunication · disillusionment · radicalization · deconversion · reformation
Shelter from persecution
- refugeePerson fleeing danger abroad
- exileBanishment from homeland
- emigrationLeaving homeland permanently
- expatriateOne living abroad permanently
dissident · sanctuary · Iron Curtain · Cold War · repatriation · haven · harbor · passage
Sanctioned time away
- withdrawalAct of taking away
- resignationVoluntary relinquishment of position
- departureAct of going away
- secessionFormal withdrawal from union
abdication · exit · walkout · breakaway · split · abandonment · relinquishment · forsaking
Covert information gatherer
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- counterintelligenceDefense against enemy espionage
- moleSubterranean insectivore
- infiltratorOne who enters covertly
leak · classified · handler · debriefing · asset · sleeper · KGB · CIA
desertion
Unlawful abandonment of duty
abandonment · treason · court-martial · discharge · surrender · prisoner · conscription · collaborator · sabotage · sedition
traitor
One who betrays allegiance
disloyalty · perfidy · double-cross · backstabber · sellout · renegade · quisling · deserter · faithlessness · infidelity
apostasy
Renunciation of former beliefs
- heresyBelief opposing official doctrine
- conversionAct of changing states
- renunciationFormal surrender of claim
abjuration · recantation · disaffection · schism · excommunication · disillusionment · radicalization · deconversion · reformation · break
asylum
Shelter from persecution
- refugeePerson fleeing danger abroad
- exileBanishment from homeland
- emigrationLeaving homeland permanently
expatriate · dissident · sanctuary · Iron Curtain · Cold War · repatriation · haven · harbor · passage · clandestine
leave
Sanctioned time away
- withdrawalAct of taking away
- resignationVoluntary relinquishment of position
- departureAct of going away
secession · abdication · exit · walkout · breakaway · split · abandonment · relinquishment · forsaking · estrangement
spy
Covert information gatherer
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- counterintelligenceDefense against enemy espionage
- moleSubterranean insectivore
infiltrator · leak · classified · handler · debriefing · asset · sleeper · KGB · CIA · MI6
- treasontreason, high treason, sedition, turncoat, state betrayal
- East German crimesborder crossing, escape attempts, Stasi, political crimes, political prisoners
- Dystopia1984, Nineteen Eighty-Four, dystopian fiction, totalitarianism, Brave New World
- espionagespy, spies, double agent, double agents, spying
- politicsdemocracy, campaigning, campaigns, democrats, bill
- Spy Fictionspy, secret agent, double agent, MI6, CIA
defectionloyalty
Faithful commitment to another
faithfulness · allegiance · fidelity · steadfastness · devotion
defectionjoining
Linking into one
enlistment · recruitment · enrollment · signing up · affiliation
defectionrepatriation
Formal return to homeland
return · homecoming · reconciliation · reunion · rallying
- defective productsItems with manufacturing flaws
- defective goodsItems with manufacturing flaws
- defective on arrivalBroken when shipped item reaches buyer