defection

[ dih-fek-shuhn ]
/ dɪˈfɛk ʃən /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR defection ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

desertion from allegiance, loyalty, duty, or the like; apostasy: His defection to East Germany was regarded as treasonable.
failure; lack; loss: He was overcome by a sudden defection of courage.

Origin of defection

1535–45; < Latin dēfectiōn- (stem of dēfectiō), equivalent to dēfect(us) (see defect) + -iōn- -ion

OTHER WORDS FROM defection

non·de·fec·tion, noun re·de·fec·tion, noun

Words nearby defection

defeatist, defeature, defecate, defect, defectible, defection, defective, defective bacteriophage, defective virus, defective year, defector

Words related to defection

rejection, divorce, revolt, failure, desertion, withdrawal, repudiation, failing, disloyalty, alienation, severance, dereliction, lack, rebellion, deficiency, estrangement, retreat, separation, disaffection, tergiversation

Example sentences from the Web for defection

British Dictionary definitions for defection

defection
/ (dɪˈfɛkʃən) /

noun

the act or an instance of defecting
abandonment of duty, allegiance, principles, etc; backsliding
another word for defect (def. 1), defect (def. 2)