traitor

noun

trai·​tor ˈtrā-tər 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

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.
Young-il’s brother is still searching for the island — but a traitor on the boat is preventing the detective from reaching the game site. Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025 Meanwhile, Jun-ho continues his search for the island on which the Squid Games are taking place - but there's a traitor amongst his team. Griff Griffin, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025 Farmers who build fences might be viewed as traitors, siding with outsiders who have no understanding of country ways. Jonathan C. Slaght, The Atlantic, 11 June 2025 For its part, Hamas says Abu Shabab is a traitor and a gangster. Tim Lister, CNN Money, 8 June 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Traitor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/traitor. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

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

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