defection

noun

de·​fec·​tion di-ˈfek-shən 

: conscious abandonment of allegiance or duty (as to a person, cause, or doctrine) : desertion

Examples of defection in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

With their slim leads in both the House and Senate, Republicans can afford just a few defections. —David Folkenflik, NPR, 3 June 2025

As lawmakers aim to send a bill to Trump by the Fourth of July, those demands could complicate the Senate's calculus for passage -- where Republicans can only afford three defections. —John Parkinson, ABC News, 2 June 2025

Miami has six additions ranked in ESPN’s new Top 100 most impactful transfer portal gets list, vs. one only defection (WR Isaiah Horton to Alabama. —Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 18 May 2025

Johnson can only afford just three Republican defections on the final bill, so even small factions like the SALT Caucus hold enormous power in the negotiations. —Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 16 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin dēfectiōn-, dēfectiō "falling short, failure, abandonment of allegiance," from dēficere "to be lacking, fail, become disaffected, go over (to the side of an opponent)" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at deficient

First Known Use

1532, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for defection

• abjection
• advection
• affection
• bijection
• bisection
• collection
• complexion
• confection
• connection
• connexion
• convection
• correction