traitor

noun

trai·​tor ˈtrā-tər 

1

: one who betrays another's trust or is false to an obligation or duty

2

: one who commits treason

Synonyms

• betrayer
• snake

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

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

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

Phrases Containing traitor

• turn traitor

Rhymes for traitor

• cater
• crater
• frater
• freighter
• gator
• grater
• greater
• hater
• krater
• later
• plater
• prater

Kids Definition

traitor

noun

trai·​tor ˈtrāt-ər 

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