Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A lack: a failure; especially, failure in the performance of duty or obligation.
  • noun The act of abandoning a person or a cause to which one is bound by allegiance or duty, or to which one has attached himself; a falling away; apostasy; backsliding.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun Act of abandoning a person or cause to which one is bound by allegiance or duty, or to which one has attached himself; desertion; failure in duty; a falling away; apostasy; backsliding.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun an act or incidence of defecting

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the state of having rejected your religious beliefs or your political party or a cause (often in favor of opposing beliefs or causes)
  • noun withdrawing support or help despite allegiance or responsibility

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word defection.

Examples

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.