defector
Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Legal, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
Related to defector: defection
de·fect
(dē′fĕkt′, dĭ-fĕkt′)n.
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.
de•fec•tor
(dɪˈfɛk tər)n.
a person who defects from a cause or country.
[1655–65; < Latin dēfector renegade, rebel, derivative of dēficere to become disaffected, revolt, literally, to fail; see deficient]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
defector
A person who repudiates his or her country when beyond its jurisdiction or control.
Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. US Department of Defense 2005.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
Noun | 1. | defector - a person who abandons their duty (as on a military post) armed forces, armed services, military, military machine, war machine - the military forces of a nation; "their military is the largest in the region"; "the military machine is the same one we faced in 1991 but now it is weaker" deviationist - an ideological defector from the party line (especially from orthodox communism) draft dodger, draft evader - someone who is drafted and illegally refuses to serve renegade - someone who rebels and becomes an outlaw walk-in - an operative who initiates his own defection (usually to a hostile country) for political asylum |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
defector
noun deserter, renegade, turncoat, apostate, recreant (archaic), runagate (archaic), tergiversator Turkey granted asylum to defectors from Communist countries.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
defector
nounThe American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
defector
[dɪˈfektəʳ] N (to different country) → desertor(a) m/f; (to different party) → tránsfuga mfCollins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995