traitor

noun

trai·​tor ˈtrā-tər How to pronounce traitor (audio)
Synonyms of traitornext
1
: one who betrays another's trust or is false to an obligation or duty
2
: one who commits treason

Synonyms

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 

Examples of traitor in a Sentence

She has been called a traitor to the liberal party's cause. He was a traitor who betrayed his country by selling military secrets to the enemy.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Cumming will lead a new group of 21 traitors from across a variety of other reality series. —Anne Easton, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024 He is now considered one of America’s worst traitors. —Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 11 Oct. 2024 Unless there’s a traitor in the midst, in which case, that player wins. —Rob Wieland, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024 Eugene Hyman Los Altos Is Trump America’s worst traitor? —Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 11 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for traitor 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English traytour, from Anglo-French traitre, from Latin traditor, from tradere to hand over, deliver, betray, from trans-, tra- trans- + dare to give — more at date

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of traitor was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing traitor

Dictionary Entries Near traitor

traiteur

traitor

traitorism

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Traitor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/traitor. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

traitor

noun
trai·​tor ˈtrāt-ər How to pronounce traitor (audio)
1
: one who betrays another's trust or is false to an obligation or duty
2
: one who commits treason
Etymology

Middle English traitre "traitor," from early French traitre (same meaning), from Latin traditor (same meaning), derived from tradere "to hand over, betray" — related to treason see Word History at treason

More from Merriam-Webster on traitor

Nglish: Translation of traitor for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of traitor for Arabic Speakers

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