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

Proceed with caution, faithful readers… The die is cast — the traitors and faithfuls have been chosen, and their clothes are doing the slaying (all puns intended). —Jamie Allison Sanders, PEOPLE, 16 Jan. 2026

After more heated debate, which saw Ron once again targeted due to his closeness with Donna Kelce, who was revealed to be the secret traitor and banished in episode three — the K-pop singer finally spoke up. —Anna Chan, Billboard, 16 Jan. 2026

These mercenary-force ICE clowns are traitors to the country and the Constitution. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 12 Jan. 2026

But the secret traitor leaves us all faithfully stabbing in the dark, trying to Sherlock their secret identity, figure out their moves without their confessional tapes. —Raven Smith, Vogue, 9 Jan. 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