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 of traitor

• 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

Life after a near-death experience is rocky, especially as Bond tries to regain his trust in agent 003 Johanna Harwood, and a traitor runs amongst M16. —Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 10 Nov. 2025

Tomer-Yerushalmi was then arrested, and Netanyahu’s team has used her story to portray the judiciary as a collection of traitors who must be purged. —Aluf Benn, Foreign Affairs, 10 Nov. 2025

It was left for Carr, the remaining traitor, to take the spoils instead, as Mohammed and Olusoga chose to end the game with the comedian still remaining. —Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 Nov. 2025

On Thursday night, it will be determined whether the traitors or the faithfuls will win a £100,000 prize for charity. —Ellise Shafer, Variety, 6 Nov. 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