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

Another option is The Crown, an eight-team event in Las Vegas that offers modest NIL payouts but doesn’t start until April 1, when rosters are ravaged from impending transfer portal defections. —Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026

Some bullish analysts optimistic about the government’s collapse estimated that Tehran could soon become unable to pay the Guards, triggering defections, especially after Israeli cyberattacks on Iranian banks and a Wednesday airstrike against a Bank Sepah data center. —Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 14 Mar. 2026

Creating uncertainty in Iran’s military should help demoralize officers and inspire defections. —Dennis Ross, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026

There was also a wave of defections by athletes after the Melbourne Olympics that year. —Nick Miller, New York Times, 13 Mar. 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