defections
Switching sides en masse
Defections are acts of abandoning a cause, country, organization, or allegiance—typically to join an opposing side.
The word implies betrayal or disloyalty from the perspective of those left behind: Recent defections have weakened the party.
In Cold War contexts, defections often meant spies or officials fleeing to enemy nations.
The singular defection names a single such act.
Unlawful abandonment of duty
- turncoatOne who betrays allegiance
- traitorOne who betrays allegiance
- treacheryDeliberate violation of trust
- disloyaltyBreach of allegiance
backstabbing · perfidy · double-cross · quisling · apostasy · sedition · disaffection · infidelity
Shelter from persecution
- refugeePerson fleeing danger abroad
- exileBanishment from homeland
- dissidentOpposer of established systems
- regimeSystem of governance
border · crossing · propaganda · ideology · embassy · diplomatic · sanctuary · repatriation
Act of going away
- withdrawalAct of taking away
- resignationVoluntary relinquishment of position
- quitCease doing something
- departureAct of going away
secession · walkout · exodus · abandonment · split · breakaway · separation · detachment
Movement or work period
- switchingChanging from one to another
- changeoverComplete shift between systems
- transitionChange from one state
- conversionAct of changing states
pivoting · transfer · crossover · faction · coalition · merger · alliance · flip
desertion
Unlawful abandonment of duty
- turncoatOne who betrays allegiance
- traitorOne who betrays allegiance
- treacheryDeliberate violation of trust
disloyalty · backstabbing · perfidy · double-cross · quisling · apostasy · sedition · disaffection · infidelity · unfaithfulness
asylum
Shelter from persecution
- refugeePerson fleeing danger abroad
- exileBanishment from homeland
- dissidentOpposer of established systems
regime · border · crossing · propaganda · ideology · embassy · diplomatic · sanctuary · repatriation · amnesty
leaving
Act of going away
- withdrawalAct of taking away
- resignationVoluntary relinquishment of position
- quitCease doing something
departure · secession · walkout · exodus · abandonment · split · breakaway · separation · detachment · disengagement
shift
Movement or work period
- switchingChanging from one to another
- changeoverComplete shift between systems
- transitionChange from one state
conversion · pivoting · transfer · crossover · faction · coalition · merger · alliance · flip · turnabout
allegiance
Loyalty owed to authority
abjure · forswear · retract · repudiate · denounce · disown · renounce · rejection · disclaim · dissent
- South Indian Politicschief minister, state assembly, Stalin, coalition politics, political dynasties
- Cold WarBerlin Wall, Iron Curtain, arms race, Warsaw Pact, Cuban Missile Crisis
- Cold War Diplomacydétente, detente, arms control, summits, SALT talks
- European PoliticsEU, European Parliament, European Union, EU Commission, eurozone
- Chinese Civil WarCCP, Kuomintang, Communist Party, Nationalists, Mao Zedong
defectionsloyalties
Faithful bonds to causes
allegiances · fidelities · steadfastness · faithfulness · devotions
defectionsrecruitments
Acts of gaining personnel
enlistments · conversions · accessions · joinings · sign-ups