defection

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de·fect

(dē′fĕkt′, dĭ-fĕkt′)

An imperfection or lack that causes inadequacy or failure; a shortcoming or deficiency. See Synonyms at blemish.

intr.v. (dĭ-fĕkt′) de·fect·ed, de·fect·ing, de·fects

1. To disown allegiance to one's country and take up residence in another: a Soviet citizen who defected to Israel.

2. To abandon a position or association, often to join an opposing group: defected from the party over the issue of free trade.

[Middle English, from Latin dēfectus, failure, want, from past participle of dēficere, to desert, be wanting : dē-, de- + facere, to do; see dhē- in Indo-European roots.]

de·fec′tion n.

de·fec′tor n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

defection

(dɪˈfɛkʃən)

1. the act or an instance of defecting

2. abandonment of duty, allegiance, principles, etc; backsliding

3. another word for defect¹, defect²

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

de•fec•tion

(dɪˈfɛk ʃən)

n.

desertion from allegiance, loyalty, duty, or the like; apostasy.

[1535–45; < Latin dēfectiō]

defection

the act of abandoning a person or cause to which one has an obligation or allegiance, especially accompanied by flight from one’s country. — defector, defectionist, n.

defection

noun desertion, revolt, rebellion, abandonment, dereliction, backsliding, apostasy the defection of at least sixteen deputies

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

defection

noun

An instance of defecting from or abandoning a cause:

apostasy, recreance, recreancy, tergiversation.

Translations

هَرب، تَخَلٍّ عن حِزْب، إرتِداد

odpadnutízběhnutí

afhopning

Abfall

αποσκίρτηση αυτομόληση

defección

défection

disszidálás

liîhlaup

defezione diserzione

avhopping frafall

odpadnutie

ayrılmakarşı tarafa geçme

背叛

defection

[dɪˈfekʃən] N (Pol) (to different country) → deserción f; (to different party) → cambio m de filas, defección f (frm)

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

defection

[dɪˈfɛkʃ^ən] n (to another party) → défection f; (to another team) → défection m; (to another country) → défection f

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

defection

n (Pol) → Überlaufen nt; (fig) → Abtrünnigkeit f, → Abfall m

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

defection

[dɪˈfɛkʃ/ən] n (from country) → fuga; (from political party) → defezione f

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

defect

(ˈdiːfekt) noun

a fault or flaw. It was a basic defect in her character; a defect in the china.

(diˈfekt) verb

to leave a country, political party etc to go and join another; to desert. He defected to the West.

deˈfection (-ʃən) noun

(an act of) desertion.

deˈfective (-tiv) adjective

having a fault or flaw. a defective machine; He is mentally defective.

References in classic literature ?

What he foresaw was the defection of the great labor unions and the rise of the castes.

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Lady Susan was far from intending such a conquest, and on finding how warmly Miss Mainwaring resented her lover's defection, determined, in spite of Mr.

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It had been agreed to speak as little as possible: they did not even renew the exchange of views regarding the defection of Palmer, which had occupied their minds on the way.

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The French had accounted for this unexpected defection on the part of their ally in various ways.

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I wrote, therefore, to one of our fathers, who was then near the Emperor, the best intelligence I could obtain of all that had passed, of the reports that were spread through all this part of the empire, and of the disposition which I discovered in the people to a general defection; telling him, however, that I could not yet believe that the viceroy, who had honoured me with his friendship, and of whom I never had any thought but how to oblige him, could now have so far changed his sentiments as to take away my life.

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left..." A fat major skirted a bush, puffing and falling out of step; a soldier who had fallen behind, his face showing alarm at his defection, ran at a trot, panting to catch up with his company.

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It was about this time that a slight defection arose on the part of Lop-Ear.

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He meant to make up for Margaret's defection, but knew that his father had been very happy with her until yesterday.

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Kitty and Lydia take his defection much more to heart than I do.

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He noted with surprise the absence of Taglat, whom he had expected to find awaiting him outside the tent of Achmet Zek; but, accustomed as he was to the unreliability of apes, he gave no serious attention to the present defection of his surly companion.

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I now knew that while theoretically a prisoner I was virtually free, and I hastened to regain the city limits before the defection of Woola could be discovered by his erstwhile masters.

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The Sarians, under Ghak the Hairy One, and the Amozites under Dacor the Strong One, Dian's brother, had fallen out over my supposed defection, for Ghak would not believe that I had thus treacher-ously deceived and deserted them.

Noun	1.	defection - withdrawing support or help despite allegiance or responsibility; "his abandonment of his wife and children left them penniless" desertion, abandonment withdrawal - the act of withdrawing; "the withdrawal of French troops from Vietnam" abscondment, decampment - the act of running away secretly (as to avoid arrest) absence without leave, unauthorized absence - unauthorized military absence deviationism - ideological defection from the party line (especially from orthodox communism)
	2.	defection - the state of having rejected your religious beliefs or your political party or a cause (often in favor of opposing beliefs or causes) apostasy, renunciation rejection - the state of being rejected