traitor

noun

trai·​tor ˈtrā-tər How to pronounce traitor (audio)
1
: one who betrays another's trust or is false to an obligation or duty
2
: one who commits treason

Examples of traitor in a Sentence

She has been called a traitor to the liberal party's cause. He was a traitor who betrayed his country by selling military secrets to the enemy.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Anyone pushing back against HUAC was a traitor, a red, and should be exiled. Chris Yogerst, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2025 Cavs fans took it especially hard, labeling James a traitor and burning his jersey. Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025 Over the centuries she’s been branded a traitor, condemned as a nymphomaniac, diagnosed as a sociopath and — more recently — defended as a victim of circumstances. Phillipa Gregory, PEOPLE, 4 Oct. 2025 So many traitors, smooth operators. Megan McCluskey, Time, 3 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for traitor

Word History

Etymology

Middle English traytour, from Anglo-French traitre, from Latin traditor, from tradere to hand over, deliver, betray, from trans-, tra- trans- + dare to give — more at date

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of traitor was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Traitor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/traitor. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

traitor

noun
trai·​tor ˈtrāt-ər How to pronounce traitor (audio)
1
: one who betrays another's trust or is false to an obligation or duty
2
: one who commits treason
Etymology

Middle English traitre "traitor," from early French traitre (same meaning), from Latin traditor (same meaning), derived from tradere "to hand over, betray" — related to treason see Word History at treason

More from Merriam-Webster on traitor

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