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

Impeach this uneducated traitor to our values! —Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 3 Jan. 2026

Ken Blake Brea Sorry to see Jerry Neuheisel leave UCLA to join traitor and coaching has-been Chip Kelly at Northwestern. —Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2026

The president has branded the congresswoman from Georgia a traitor, publicly withdrawing his support and endorsement of her. —Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025

Hamas, which had previously vowed to target Abu Shabab, called him a traitor but did not explicitly claim responsibility for his death. —Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 4 Dec. 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