Definition of betrayal
plural betrayals
1
: the act of betraying someone or something or the fact of being betrayed : violation of a person's trust or confidence, of a moral standard, etc.
- the betrayal of a friend
- a betrayal of trust
- a betrayal of one's principles
- A man who built his entire administration upon demanding unctuous loyalty from his allies now finds himself wounded by their shabby betrayal.
- —Jack Hitt
- The double life of an informant is a peculiar one, filled at the same time with tedium and betrayal.
- —Karen Richardson
- Even Jesus recognized that there was something paradoxical about his betrayal by Judas Iscariot—in three of the four canonical Gospels, with a kiss.
- —David Gates
2
: revelation of something hidden or secret
- a betrayal of one's true feelings
- There was never doubt, never a betrayal of indecision.
- —Jack London
- … she had shrunk with irresistible dread from every course that could tend towards a betrayal of her miserable secret.
- —George Eliot
