Definition of defection
: conscious abandonment of allegiance or duty (as to a person, cause, or doctrine) : desertion
From the M-W Editors
Recent Examples of defection from the Web
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The defections of Senators Rand Paul, Mike Lee, Jerry Moran, and Susan Collins—who’d each announced opposition to the bill by Monday night—all but killed the party’s plan to replace Obamacare.
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One more defection would sink it, and a delay caused by the surgery of Arizona Republican John McCain gives opponents more time to build resistance.
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Axios reports that the White House considers every day without a third Senate defection a victory.
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Republicans hold a 52-48 majority and Democrats stand united against the bill, meaning that just three GOP defections will doom it.
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The 2015 tournament also featured a visa snafu that meant a half-dozen players weren’t available for Cuba’s opening game against the United States, followed by the obligatory political defections.
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Yet the Chevrolet is off to a slow start in terms of purchases, and there have apparently been few if any defections from the Tesla waiting list to buy the Chevy today instead of waiting for the Model 3.
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McConnell faces defections on both wings of his caucus—and prospects for a compromise that doesn't result in losing critical votes remain slim.
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On Tuesday, facing defections from both moderates and conservatives, U.S. Senate Republicans delayed their seven-year quest to overturn Obamacare and pass a sweeping health care bill.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'defection.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of defection
1546
Learn More about defection
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See words that rhyme with defection Spanish Central: Translation of defection Nglish: Translation of defection for Spanish speakers
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