treason

play

noun trea·son \ˈtrē-z^ən\

Definition of treason

1 : the offense of attempting by overt acts to overthrow the government of the state to which the offender owes allegiance or to kill or personally injure the sovereign or the sovereign's family
2 : the betrayal of a trust : treachery

See treason defined for English-language learners

See treason defined for kids

Examples of treason in a Sentence

He is guilty of treason.
reading a friend's diary without permission would have to be regarded as the ultimate act of personal treason

Recent Examples of treason from the Web

The Declaration constituted high treason against the Crown.

— randy barnett, Washington Post, "What the Declaration of Independence Said and Meant", 4 July 2017
Signing your name to something like this was considered treason.

— petula dvorak, chicagotribune.com, "Uncovering the real story behind a woman's name on the Declaration of Independence", 3 July 2017
July 1 marks the anniversary of More’s 1535 show trial in Westminster Hall, at which Henry VIII’s onetime lord chancellor was found guilty of high treason for refusing to swear an oath recognizing the king as head of England’s church.

— william mcgurn, wsj.com, "A Woman for All Seasons", 29 June 2017
Such a meeting, and the subsequent vote, would be tantamount to treason, as Simsbury citizens existed under the British crown.

— dennis hohenberger, Courant Community, "Simsbury Remembers 'Revolutionary' Past", 23 June 2017
This is a guy who accused Trump of treason on social media and was arrested for assaulting his girlfriend a decade ago.

— howard kurtz, Fox News, "Shooting at GOP gathering is a time for unity, not partisan finger-pointing", 15 June 2017
A counterintelligence report from Mueller, who oversaw spy probes for 12 years as FBI director, implicating any of them in Russian intrigues to disrupt the 2016 presidential election could lead to charges of treason.

— jeff stein, Newsweek, "Comey Testimony: What He Didn't Say on Russia Probe Should Worry Trump Most", 10 June 2017
She's written books on evolutionary biology, mind control, political treason, natural cancer cures and teen etiquette.

— anna claire vollers, AL.com, "Mary Maxwell moved from Australia to Alabama to run for U.S. Senate", 7 June 2017
The most serious charge that can be laid against a leaker is treason, which can be punishable by death.

— joe schneider, Bloomberg.com, "How the U.S. Deals With People Who Leak Secrets: QuickTake Q&A", 6 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'treason'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of treason

Middle English tresoun, from Anglo-French traisun, from Latin tradition-, traditio act of handing over, from tradere to hand over, betray — more at traitor

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First Known Use: 13th century

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TREASON Defined for English Language Learners

treason

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noun

Definition of treason for English Language Learners

: the crime of trying to overthrow your country's government or of helping your country's enemies during war

TREASON Defined for Kids

treason

play

noun trea·son \ˈtrē-z^ən\

Definition of treason for Students

: the crime of trying or helping to overthrow the government of the criminal's own country or cause its defeat in war

Law Dictionary

treason

play

noun trea·son \ˈtrēz-^ən\

Legal Definition of treason

: the offense of attempting to overthrow the government of one's country or of assisting its enemies in war; specifically : the act of levying war against the United States or adhering to or giving aid and comfort to its enemies by one who owes it allegiance

treasonous

\-əs\ play adjective

Origin and Etymology of treason

Anglo-French treison crime of violence against a person to whom allegiance is owed, literally, betrayal, from Old French traïson, from traïr to betray, from Latin tradere to hand over, surrender