betrayal
gb/bɪtɹˈeɪəl/ us/bɪtɹˈeɪəl/
B2
English
árulás, elárultság érzése, elárulás, kiszivárogtatás, árulkodó jel
NOUN
B2
1
árulás
B2
Usage pattern:
[a/an] betrayal; betrayal of [someone/something]; betrayal by [someone]
She considered his secret meeting with their rivals a personal betrayal.
A riválisaikkal való titkos találkozóját személyes árulásnak tekintette.
The soldiers were accused of betrayal after helping the enemy cross the border.
A katonákat árulással vádolták, miután segítettek az ellenségnek átkelni a határon.
For many fans, the star's move to the rival club felt like a betrayal.
Learner examples
His lie felt like a betrayal.
A hazugsága árulásnak tűnt.
Betrayal can destroy a friendship.
Az árulás tönkretehet egy barátságot.
Common mistake:
Betrayal is the noun; betray is the verb. Say “He betrayed me,” not “He made betrayal to me.”
Meaning
act of serious disloyalty
Collocations
personal betrayal
|political betrayal
|romantic betrayal
|a shocking betrayal
|a painful betrayal
|an act of betrayal
|betrayal by a friend
|betrayal of one's country
|betrayal of a cause
|commit an act of betrayal
Synonyms
disloyalty (broader and usually less dramatic)
|
treachery (stronger; often suggests danger, enemies, or treason)
|
backstabbing (informal; secret harm by someone who seemed friendly)
|
double-cross (informal; a deliberate deception of an ally or partner)
Antonyms
loyalty (faithful support instead of disloyal harm)
|
fidelity (continued faithfulness, especially in relationships or duties)
|
faithfulness (reliable commitment to someone or something)
Themes
trust
|relationships
|conflict
|politics
Definition
something disloyal that someone does to a person, group, or country that trusted them
An act of serious disloyalty that breaks trust or harms a person, group, country, or cause that expected loyalty.
NOUN
B2
2
Usage pattern:
a sense/feeling of betrayal; feelings of betrayal
After the announcement, workers spoke of shock, anger, and a deep sense of betrayal.
A bejelentés után a dolgozók döbbenetről, dühről és mély elárultságérzésről beszéltek.
He struggled with feelings of betrayal long after the friendship ended.
Még jóval a barátság vége után is küzdött az elárultság érzésével.
The apology did little to reduce the community's sense of betrayal.
Learner examples
She had a strong feeling of betrayal.
Erős elárultságérzése volt.
I felt betrayal after my friend lied to me.
Elárulva éreztem magam, miután a barátom hazudott nekem.
Common mistake:
Use “a sense of betrayal” or “a feeling of betrayal” for the emotion; “a betrayal” usually means the act itself.
Meaning
feeling of being betrayed
Collocations
a sense of betrayal
|a feeling of betrayal
|feelings of betrayal
|a deep sense of betrayal
|the pain of betrayal
|betrayal and anger
|recover from betrayal
|cope with betrayal
Synonyms
hurt (broader emotional pain)
|
resentment (anger because of unfair or disloyal treatment)
|
bitterness (long-lasting angry sadness)
|
disillusionment (loss of trust or belief after disappointment)
Antonyms
trust (confidence in someone instead of hurt suspicion)
|
security (feeling safe and confident in a relationship or situation)
|
confidence (belief that someone or something is reliable)
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|trust
|mental_health
Definition
the hurt and anger you feel when someone betrays you
The painful feeling or sense that someone you trusted has been disloyal, dishonest, or unfair to you.
NOUN
C1
3
elárulás
B2
Usage pattern:
betrayal of [principles/values/a promise/a duty]
Many members called the compromise a betrayal of the movement's founding principles.
Sok tag a kompromisszumot a mozgalom alapelveinek elárulásának nevezte.
Using donations for luxury travel would be a betrayal of the charity's mission.
Az adományok luxusutazásra fordítása a jótékonysági szervezet küldetésének elárulása lenne.
Critics said the new law was a betrayal of democratic values.
Learner examples
Breaking the promise was a betrayal of our values.
Az ígéret megszegése értékeink elárulása volt.
They saw the decision as a betrayal of the cause.
A döntést az ügy elárulásának tekintették.
Common mistake:
This use is usually followed by “of”: “a betrayal of values,” not “a betrayal to values.”
Meaning
violation of principles
Collocations
betrayal of principles
|betrayal of values
|betrayal of ideals
|betrayal of a promise
|betrayal of duty
|betrayal of a mission
|betrayal of democracy
|betrayal of a cause
Synonyms
violation (more general; breaking a rule, agreement, or principle)
|
breach (formal; failure to keep a duty or agreement)
|
abandonment (emphasizes giving up a principle or duty)
|
sellout (informal; suggests sacrificing principles for advantage)
Antonyms
commitment (continued dedication to a promise or value)
|
adherence (formal; steady following of a rule or principle)
|
loyalty (faithful support for a person, cause, or value)
Themes
ethics
|politics
|values
|responsibility
Definition
an action that goes against important beliefs, promises, or responsibilities
An act or decision that goes against an important promise, duty, principle, value, or ideal.
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
4
Usage pattern:
betrayal of [secrets/confidences/confidential information]
The betrayal of client information damaged the firm's reputation.
Az ügyféladatok kiszivárogtatása rontotta a cég hírnevét.
He was arrested for the betrayal of state secrets to a foreign government.
Letartóztatták, mert államtitkokat adott át egy külföldi kormánynak.
Journalists must avoid any betrayal of confidential sources.
Learner examples
The betrayal of secrets can put people in danger.
A titkok kiszivárogtatása veszélybe sodorhat embereket.
She was angry about the betrayal of private information.
Dühös volt a személyes adatok kiszivárogtatása miatt.
Common mistake:
In everyday contexts, “leak” or “disclosure” may sound more natural unless you want to emphasize broken trust.
Meaning
revealing a secret
Collocations
betrayal of secrets
|betrayal of confidences
|betrayal of confidential information
|betrayal of state secrets
|betrayal of client data
|betrayal of a source
|deliberate betrayal of information
Synonyms
disclosure (neutral term for making information known)
|
leak (unauthorized release of information, often to the public or press)
|
breach of confidence (formal; revealing information entrusted to you)
|
exposure (making something hidden or secret publicly known)
Antonyms
confidentiality (keeping trusted information private)
|
secrecy (the state or practice of keeping something secret)
|
nondisclosure (formal; not revealing information)
Themes
secrecy
|information
|law
|security
Definition
telling secret information to someone when you should keep it private
The act of revealing secret or confidential information, especially to someone who should not receive it.
NOUN
C2
LITERARY
5
árulkodó jel
C1
Usage pattern:
betrayal of [emotion/fear/nerves/weakness]; no betrayal of [feeling]
A slight tremor in his hands was the only betrayal of nerves.
Kezének enyhe remegése volt az idegesség egyetlen árulkodó jele.
There was no betrayal of anger in her carefully controlled voice.
Gondosan fegyelmezett hangjában nem volt semmi, ami haragra utalt volna.
The smile was a small betrayal of how relieved she felt.
Learner examples
His voice showed no betrayal of fear.
A hangja nem árulkodott félelemről.
Common mistake:
This use is uncommon in everyday English; “sign,” “indication,” or “giveaway” is usually simpler.
Meaning
involuntary revealing sign
Collocations
betrayal of emotion
|betrayal of feeling
|betrayal of fear
|betrayal of nerves
|betrayal of weakness
|a slight betrayal
|no betrayal of emotion
|without the slightest betrayal
Synonyms
sign (common and neutral)
|
indication (slightly formal; something that suggests a fact)
|
revelation (emphasizes making something hidden known)
|
giveaway (informal; a sign that accidentally reveals the truth)
Antonyms
concealment (keeping something hidden)
|
composure (controlled calm that hides emotion)
|
restraint (control that prevents feelings from showing)
Themes
emotion
|communication
|literature
Definition
a small sign that shows a feeling or thought someone is trying to hide
A sign that reveals something hidden, such as an emotion, thought, weakness, or bias, often unintentionally.
Grammar
Dictionary form
betrayal
IPA
GB/bɪtɹˈeɪəl/
US/bɪtɹˈeɪəl/
Syllables & stress
be - tray - al (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (tray)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: betrayal
- Plural: betrayal, betrayals
Expressions
betrayal of the public trust
1/bɪtɹˈeɪəl əv ðə pˈʌblɪk tɹˈʌst/
fixed phrase
formal
abuse of public responsibility
when officials misuse the power or trust given to them by the public
Examples
- The judge called the bribery scheme a betrayal of the public trust.
- Voters saw the cover-up as a betrayal of the public trust.
- Using public office for private gain is often described as a betrayal of the public trust.
Learner examples
- Taking bribes is a betrayal of the public trust.
betrayal of trust
1/bɪtɹˈeɪəl əv tɹˈʌst/
fixed phrase
violation of someone's trust
something dishonest or disloyal that breaks another person's trust
Examples
- Reading her private messages was a serious betrayal of trust.
- The manager's use of company funds for personal expenses was a betrayal of trust.
- For many patients, the data leak felt like a betrayal of trust.
Learner examples
- Lying to your friend was a betrayal of trust.
- Sharing the secret was a betrayal of trust.
betrayal trauma
1/bɪtɹˈeɪəl tɹˈɔmə/
fixed phrase
technical
trauma from trusted person's betrayal
deep emotional harm caused when someone you rely on betrays you
Examples
- Some survivors describe betrayal trauma after abuse by a trusted caregiver.
- Therapists may discuss betrayal trauma when a partner discovers long-term deception.
- The scandal caused betrayal trauma for people who had depended on the institution.
Learner examples
- He experienced betrayal trauma after years of lies.
the ultimate betrayal
1/ðə ˈʌltəmɪt bɪtɹˈeɪəl/
fixed phrase
worst possible betrayal
the worst kind of betrayal in a situation
Examples
- To her, his affair with her best friend was the ultimate betrayal.
- Fans called the owner's plan to move the team the ultimate betrayal.
- For the workers, closing the factory after promising new jobs felt like the ultimate betrayal.
Learner examples
- She felt his lie was the ultimate betrayal.