Dictionary

traitor en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• trā′tər (US)
• /ˈtɹeɪtɚ/ (US)
• [ˈtʰɹeɪɾɚ] (US)
• /ˈtɹeɪtə(ɹ)/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English traitor, traitour, traytour, from Old French traïtor (French traître), from Latin trāditor. Displaced native Middle English swike from Old English swica (“traitor”), and Middle English proditour and traditour borrowed directly from Latin. The general Old English word denoting "traitor" was lǣwa or lǣwend. Doublet of traditor and treason.

Meanings

1. Traitorous.
   • to find a subject staid and wise Already half turn'd traitor by surprise 1735, Alexander Pope, “The Second Satire of Dr. John Donne”, in The Works of Mr. Alexander Pope, volume II, London: […] J. Wright, for Lawton Gilliver […], →OCLC:

Forms

Translations (14)

mk преда́внички (traitorous) · fi petollinen (traitorous) · ca traïdor (traitorous) · mk изда́јнички (traitorous) · nl verraderlijke (traitorous) · hu áruló (traitorous) · el προδοτικός (traitorous) · nl verraderlijk (traitorous) · fr traître (traitorous) · pt traidor (traitorous) · bg предателски (traitorous) · es traidor (traitorous) · es kalé (traitorous) · tr hain (traitorous)

traitor en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• trā′tər (US)
• /ˈtɹeɪtɚ/ (US)
• [ˈtʰɹeɪɾɚ] (US)
• /ˈtɹeɪtə(ɹ)/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English traitor, traitour, traytour, from Old French traïtor (French traître), from Latin trāditor. Displaced native Middle English swike from Old English swica (“traitor”), and Middle English proditour and traditour borrowed directly from Latin. The general Old English word denoting "traitor" was lǣwa or lǣwend. Doublet of traditor and treason.

Meanings

1. Someone who violates an allegiance and betrays their country; someone guilty of treason; one who, in breach of trust, delivers their country to an enemy, or yields up any fort or place entrusted to their defense, or surrenders an army or body of troops to the enemy, unless when vanquished.
   • After World War I, the communists and Jews were accused to be traitors by the German right wing (the "stab-in-the-back myth"), ultimately culminating in their persecution and massacre.
   • My Lord of Hereford here whom you call King, / Is a foule traitour to proud Herefords King, / And if you crowne him let me propheſie, / The bloud of Engliſh ſhall manure the ground, / And future ages groane for this foule act, [...] 1595 December 9 (first known performance), [William Shakespeare], The Tragedie of King Richard the Second. […] (First Quarto), London: […] Valentine Simmes for Androw Wise, […], published 1597, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]:
   • Yes, that was Vice President Spiro Agnew commemorating the "loyalty" of literal traitors. But what can you really expect from a man whose name rearranged spells "grow a penis." 2017 October 8, “Confederacy” (14:45 from the start), in Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, season 4, episode 26, John Oliver (actor), via HBO:
2. Someone who takes arms and levies war against their country; or one who aids an enemy in conquering their country.
3. (broadly) One who betrays any confidence or trust.
   • It's second nature now to think myself a traitor To myself, to all I've ever burdened with my rotting visage I can't breathe, the weight of all I've disappointed crushes me If I were happy, it would feel as if I couldn't trust me 2019, Patricia Taxxon, “Cold Water”, in Doraemon:
   • It took you two weeks To go off and date her Guess you didn't cheat But you're still, you're still a traitor Yeah, you're still a traitor 2021, Olivia Rodrigo, Dan Nigro, “Traitor”, in Sour, performed by Olivia Rodrigo:

Forms

Deriveds

archtraitor · traitorize · cotraitor · turn traitor · race traitor · traitorship · traitorlike · traitor tracing · traitorwise · traitor within the gates · traitorless · traitorsome · traitordom · traitoress · traitorism · traitorish · traitorly · traitorous · traitorhood

Synonyms

fink · Judas (all senses) · turncloak · turntippet · wolf in sheep's clothing · turncoat · snake · changeling · recreant · swike · traitor · runagate · treasonist · betrayer · renegade · balimbing · withersake · quisling (all senses) · turncoat · snake in the grass · withersake · serpent · backstabber · rat · transfuge · apostate · turntippet · traitor · withersake · Benedict Arnold (all senses) · treacherer · cockatrice · quisling · ratter · betrayer · butterfly · snake in the grass · defector · snake · treacher · double-crosser

Translations (197)

br treitour (one who betrays; a betrayer) · cs zrádkyně (one who betrays; a betrayer) · ml ഒറ്റുകാരൻ (one who betrays; a betrayer) · es serpiente (one who betrays; a betrayer) · ka მოღალატე (one who betrays; a betrayer) · mi kaikaiwaiū (one who betrays; a betrayer) · io trahizinto (one who betrays; a betrayer) · ru изме́нница (one who betrays; a betrayer) · tl traidor (one who betrays; a betrayer) · bg изме́нник (one who betrays; a betrayer) · gl suiño (one who betrays; a betrayer) · pt traidora (one who betrays; a betrayer) · sh ѝзда̄јнӣк (one who betrays; a betrayer) · mk предавник (one who betrays; a betrayer) · nb sviker (one who betrays; a betrayer) · cmn 賣國賊 /卖国贼 (one who betrays; a betrayer) · yi פֿאַררעטער (one who betrays; a betrayer) · nl verrader (one who betrays; a betrayer) · ca traïdora (one who betrays; a betrayer) · it traditore (one who betrays; a betrayer) · uk зра́дник (one who betrays; a betrayer) · te ద్రోహి (one who betrays; a betrayer) · is svikari (one who betrays; a betrayer) · hu áruló (one who betrays; a betrayer) · sh ѝздајица (one who betrays; a betrayer) · la trāditor (one who betrays; a betrayer) · ja 非国民 (one who betrays; a betrayer) · sk zradkyňa (one who betrays; a betrayer) · kmr xaîn (one who betrays; a betrayer) · da forræder (one who betrays; a betrayer) · ko 국적 (one who betrays; a betrayer) · nn svikar (one who betrays; a betrayer) · be здра́дніца (one who betrays; a betrayer) · fi maanpetturi (one who betrays; a betrayer) · ja 国賊 (one who betrays; a betrayer) · uz sotqin (one who betrays; a betrayer) · it giravolta (one who betrays; a betrayer) · grc προδότης (one who betrays; a betrayer) · ko 배반자 (one who betrays; a betrayer) · zza ğedar (one who betrays; a betrayer) · io trahizemo (one who betrays; a betrayer) · cmn 漢奸 (one who betrays; a betrayer) · id pengkhianat (one who betrays; a betrayer) · bg изме́нничка (one who betrays; a betrayer) · ro trădător (one who betrays; a betrayer) · sl izdajalka (one who betrays; a betrayer) · ky чыккынчы (one who betrays; a betrayer) · cs vlastizrádkyně (one who betrays; a betrayer) · de Verräterin (one who betrays; a betrayer) · sa पक्षहर (one who betrays; a betrayer) · cs zrádce (one who betrays; a betrayer) · hi ग़द्दार (one who betrays; a betrayer) · mk издајничка (one who betrays; a betrayer) · oc traita (one who betrays; a betrayer) · et äraandja (one who betrays; a betrayer) · sv quisling (one who betrays; a betrayer) · ne देशद्रोही (one who betrays; a betrayer) · ar خَائِنَة (one who betrays; a betrayer) · fa-ira غَدَّار (one who betrays; a betrayer) · kw traytour (one who betrays; a betrayer) · ro trădătoare (one who betrays; a betrayer) · sh ѝзда̄јница (one who betrays; a betrayer) · mk предавничка (one who betrays; a betrayer) · pl zaprzaniec (one who betrays; a betrayer) · lt išdavikas (one who betrays; a betrayer) · tr satkın (one who betrays; a betrayer) · tg хоин (one who betrays; a betrayer) · it traditrice (one who betrays; a betrayer) · it proditrice (one who betrays; a betrayer) · uk зра́дниця (one who betrays; a betrayer) · mn урвагч (one who betrays; a betrayer) · sv förrädare (one who betrays; a betrayer) · hy դավաճան (one who betrays; a betrayer) · af verraaier (one who betrays; a betrayer) · ht trèt (one who betrays; a betrayer) · fa-ira خِیانَتکار (one who betrays; a betrayer) · cmn 國賊 /国贼 (one who betrays; a betrayer) · bn রাজাকার (one who betrays; a betrayer) · ca traïdor (one who betrays; a betrayer) · es traidor (one who betrays; a betrayer) · hi देशद्रोही (one who betrays; a betrayer) · ar خَائِن (one who betrays; a betrayer) · sa द्रोहप्रवेशक (one who betrays; a betrayer) · zza xayın (one who betrays; a betrayer) · es proditor (disused) (one who betrays; a betrayer) · gl treidor (one who betrays; a betrayer) · lv nodevēja (one who betrays; a betrayer) · lo ຜູ້ທໍລະຍົດ (one who betrays; a betrayer) · it proditore (one who betrays; a betrayer) · ar غَدَّارَة (one who betrays; a betrayer) · it banderuola (one who betrays; a betrayer) · cy bradwr (one who betrays; a betrayer) · pl zdrajca (one who betrays; a betrayer) · ur خِیانَت گَر (one who betrays; a betrayer) · io trahizero (one who betrays; a betrayer) · sa राजद्रोही (one who betrays; a betrayer) · gl ransoño (one who betrays; a betrayer) · la trāditrīx (one who betrays; a betrayer) · sh ìzdājnīk (one who betrays; a betrayer) · la prōditrīx (one who betrays; a betrayer) · ja 売国奴 (one who betrays; a betrayer) · eu saltzaile (one who betrays; a betrayer) · th คนทรยศ (one who betrays; a betrayer) · es traidora (one who betrays; a betrayer) · oc traite (one who betrays; a betrayer) · kk сатқын (one who betrays; a betrayer) · arc ܡܫܠܡܢܐ (one who betrays; a betrayer) · fr traître (one who betrays; a betrayer) · sh ìzdajica (one who betrays; a betrayer) · wa traite (one who betrays; a betrayer) · de Verräter (one who betrays; a betrayer) · gl turdio (one who betrays; a betrayer) · kw traytoures (one who betrays; a betrayer) · el προδότης (one who betrays; a betrayer) · be здра́днік (one who betrays; a betrayer) · th ผู้ทรยศ (one who betrays; a betrayer) · oc traïdoira (one who betrays; a betrayer) · ps غدار (one who betrays; a betrayer) · nb forræder (one who betrays; a betrayer) · cs velezrádkyně (one who betrays; a betrayer) · ug خائىن (one who betrays; a betrayer) · bg преда́тел (one who betrays; a betrayer) · tk haýyn (one who betrays; a betrayer) · gl tredo (one who betrays; a betrayer) · az xain (one who betrays; a betrayer) · fa-ira خائِن (one who betrays; a betrayer) · cs velezrádce (one who betrays; a betrayer) · te దేశద్రోహి (one who betrays; a betrayer) · ja 裏切り者 (one who betrays; a betrayer) · sk zradca (one who betrays; a betrayer) · ms pembelot (one who betrays; a betrayer) · oc traïdor (one who betrays; a betrayer) · hi द्रोही (one who betrays; a betrayer) · hi विद्रोही (one who betrays; a betrayer) · br treitourez (one who betrays; a betrayer) · ta தேசத்துரோகி (one who betrays; a betrayer) · gl catralvo (one who betrays; a betrayer) · mk издајник (one who betrays; a betrayer) · th กบฏ (one who betrays; a betrayer) · nn forrædar (one who betrays; a betrayer) · et reetur (one who betrays; a betrayer) · sq tradhtar (one who betrays; a betrayer) · gd Scottish Gaelic: brathadair (one who betrays; a betrayer) · sq besprem (one who betrays; a betrayer) · lt išdavikė (one who betrays; a betrayer) · sh ìzdājnica (one who betrays; a betrayer) · ug ساتقىن (one who betrays; a betrayer) · it voltagabbana (one who betrays; a betrayer) · km អ្នកក្បត់ (one who betrays; a betrayer) · lv nodevējs (one who betrays; a betrayer) · ru преда́тельница (one who betrays; a betrayer) · eo perfidulino (one who betrays; a betrayer) · tr hain (one who betrays; a betrayer) · la prōditor (one who betrays; a betrayer) · pl sprzedawczyk (one who betrays; a betrayer) · he בּוֹגֵד (one who betrays; a betrayer) · io trahizanto (one who betrays; a betrayer) · ko 배신자 (one who betrays; a betrayer) · fr traîtresse (one who betrays; a betrayer) · el δοσίλογος (one who betrays; a betrayer) · uz xoin (one who betrays; a betrayer) · ms penderhaka (one who betrays; a betrayer) · tg хиёнатгар (one who betrays; a betrayer) · ang lǣwa (one who betrays; a betrayer) · bn গদ্দার (one who betrays; a betrayer) · ko 매국노 (one who betrays; a betrayer) · ru преда́тель (one who betrays; a betrayer) · ps خاين (one who betrays; a betrayer) · ja 反逆者 (one who betrays; a betrayer) · uz xiyonatkor (one who betrays; a betrayer) · cmn 叛徒 (one who betrays; a betrayer) · vi kẻ phản bội (one who betrays; a betrayer) · pl konfident (one who betrays; a betrayer) · tg хиёнаткор (one who betrays; a betrayer) · sl izdajalec (one who betrays; a betrayer) · ar غَدَّار (one who betrays; a betrayer) · ja 逆賊 (one who betrays; a betrayer) · ms pengkhianat (one who betrays; a betrayer) · pl zdrajczyni (one who betrays; a betrayer) · uz xiyonatchi (one who betrays; a betrayer) · eo perfidulo (one who betrays; a betrayer) · tr sadakâtsiz (one who betrays; a betrayer) · ru изме́нник (one who betrays; a betrayer) · grc προδότις (one who betrays; a betrayer) · id pembelot (one who betrays; a betrayer) · bg преда́телка (one who betrays; a betrayer) · ur غَدَّار (one who betrays; a betrayer) · cs vlastizrádce (one who betrays; a betrayer) · cmn 逆賊 /逆贼 (one who betrays; a betrayer) · pt traidor (one who betrays; a betrayer) · ne गद्दार (one who betrays; a betrayer) · gl aleive (one who betrays; a betrayer) · fi petturi (one who betrays; a betrayer) · ta துரோகி (one who betrays; a betrayer) · bg изме́нница (one who betrays; a betrayer) · cmn 背叛者 (one who betrays; a betrayer) · az satqın (one who betrays; a betrayer)

traitor en · VERB

Pronunciation

• trā′tər (US)
• /ˈtɹeɪtɚ/ (US)
• [ˈtʰɹeɪɾɚ] (US)
• /ˈtɹeɪtə(ɹ)/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English traitor, traitour, traytour, from Old French traïtor (French traître), from Latin trāditor. Displaced native Middle English swike from Old English swica (“traitor”), and Middle English proditour and traditour borrowed directly from Latin. The general Old English word denoting "traitor" was lǣwa or lǣwend. Doublet of traditor and treason.

Meanings

1. To act the traitor toward; to betray; to deceive.

Forms