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 of traitor

• 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

It’s populated by craven, cowardly traitors. —Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 25 Mar. 2026

After Kent’s resignation, Republican hawks denounced him as a kook and a traitor to the cause, without touching on the delicate question of why Trump appointed such a disreputable figure in the first place. —Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026

What Davenport doesn’t know is a lethal Russian hit squad, led by a woman trained to kill, is hunting the traitor/spy, and after a couple of car chases, the hit team realizes Davenport is after them. —Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 22 Mar. 2026

Having been labeled traitors in Iran and following reports that some of their families had been threatened, the players then sang before their other two matches. —Don Riddell, CNN Money, 17 Mar. 2026

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