traitor

noun

trai·​tor ˈtrā-tər 

1

: one who betrays another's trust or is false to an obligation or duty

2

: one who commits treason

Synonyms

• betrayer
• snake

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

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

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

Phrases Containing traitor

• turn traitor

Rhymes for traitor

• cater
• crater
• frater
• freighter
• gator
• grater
• greater
• hater
• krater
• later
• plater
• prater

Kids Definition

traitor

noun

trai·​tor ˈtrāt-ər 

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