treason

trea·son

noun \ˈtrē-z^ən\

Definition of TREASON

1

: the betrayal of a trust : treachery

2

: the offense of attempting by overt acts to overthrow the government of the state to which the offender owes allegiance or to kill or personally injure the sovereign or the sovereign's family

Examples of TREASON

1. He is guilty of treason.
2. <reading a friend's diary without permission would have to be regarded as the ultimate act of personal treason>

Origin of TREASON

Middle English tresoun, from Anglo-French traisun, from Latin tradition-, traditio act of handing over, from tradere to hand over, betray — more at traitor

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to TREASON

Synonyms

backstabbing, business, disloyalty, double cross, faithlessness, falseness, falsity, infidelity, perfidy, sellout, treachery, betrayal, two-timing, unfaithfulness

Antonyms

allegiance, devotion, faithfulness, fealty, fidelity, loyalty, staunchness, steadfastness

Related Words

abandonment, desertion; deceit, deception, double-dealing, duplicity, guile, two-facedness; fraud, informing, lying, snitching, talebearing, trickery

Near Antonyms

dependability, reliability, trustworthiness; defense, protection, safeguard, shield

Rhymes with TREASON

reason, season, seisin

treason

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Offense of attempting to overthrow the government of one's country or of assisting its enemies in war. In the U.S., the framers of the Constitution defined treason narrowly—as the levying of war against the U.S. or the giving of aid and comfort to its enemies—in order to lessen the possibility that those in power might falsely or loosely charge their political opponents with treason. See also sedition.