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

There will be recruiting battles and NIL headaches and portal defections and angry message boards and all the other insanity that comes with coaching at a place where fans consider 9-3 an average record rather than an accomplishment. — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2026

Sensible Carl Laemmle kept above the fray and denied reports that Universal Pictures was considering a defection. — Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2026

Speaker Mike Johnson can lose two Republican votes before a third defection upsets the majority. — Lauren Peller, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026

Johnson has a razor-thin margin in the House and can only afford three defections on a party-line vote. — Garrett Downs, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026

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