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

After his defection, Carvajal vanished from public view, evading extradition for years while seeking asylum in Europe. —Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 3 Dec. 2025

That said, group defections from one major agency to another are rare and the last time several high-profile CAA agents left together was in 2020 when a faction departed to launch Range Media Partners. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 25 Nov. 2025

Armed groups have proliferated in a complex web of alliances, defections, and betrayals. —Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025

That came after multiple attempts by Trump to kill the legislation before changing course following the defection of several Republican House members urging their release, including such typically MAGA faithful stalwarts as Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 21 Nov. 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