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Definition of defector

defector

/dɪˈfɛktər/
de · fec · tor
Plural:defectors
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defector Lexical Profile

defector Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A person who abandons their country, political party, or cause in favor of an opposing one.

Example

"The diplomatic officials granted political asylum to the high-ranking defector after weeks of secret negotiations."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for defector

• Nearby Words

defective
defectively
defectiveness
defector
defend
defendable
defendant

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the mid-17th century from Latin defector ('rebel, deserter'), an agent noun from deficere ('to desert, revolt, fail'), composed of de- ('away from') and facere ('to do, make').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Defector. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/defector
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