defection

Noun
US[dih-fek-shuhn]/dɪˈfɛkʃən/3 syllables
Synonyms: desertionabandonmentapostasyrenunciation

Open English WordNet

Noun (2)

  1. withdrawing support or help despite allegiance or responsibility“his abandonment of his wife and children left them penniless”Synonyms: desertionabandonmentType of withdrawalKinds absence without leave, abscondment, deviationism
  2. the state of having rejected your religious beliefs for your political party or a cause (often in favor of opposing beliefs or causes)Synonyms: apostasyrenunciationType of rejection

Related words forsake verb

Word of the day · Nov 2About this word
perniciousadjective

What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz

Advertisement

Webster's Dictionary (1913)

De·fec′tion noun

Origin: L. defectio: cf. F. défection. 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 Walter Raleigh

The general defection of the whole realm.— Sir John Davies

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54

Advertisement