Search Result for "defection": 
Wordnet 3.0

NOUN (2)

1. withdrawing support or help despite allegiance or responsibility;
- Example: "his abandonment of his wife and children left them penniless"
[syn: desertion, abandonment, defection]

2. the state of having rejected your religious beliefs or your political party or a cause (often in favor of opposing beliefs or causes);
[syn: apostasy, renunciation, defection]



The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Defection \De*fec"tion\, n. [L. defectio: cf. F. d['e]fection.
   See Defect.]
   Act of abandoning a person or cause to which one is bound by
   allegiance or duty, or to which one has attached himself;
   desertion; failure in duty; a falling away; apostasy;
   backsliding. "Defection and falling away from God." --Sir W.
   Raleigh.
   [1913 Webster]

         The general defection of the whole realm. --Sir J.
                                                  Davies.
   [1913 Webster]


WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

defection
    n 1: withdrawing support or help despite allegiance or
         responsibility; "his abandonment of his wife and children
         left them penniless" [syn: desertion, abandonment,
         defection]
    2: the state of having rejected your religious beliefs or your
       political party or a cause (often in favor of opposing
       beliefs or causes) [syn: apostasy, renunciation,
       defection]