traitor
gb/tɹˈeɪtɚ/ us/tɹˈeɪtɚ/
B2
English
~ 5900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
entity
1
person who betrays their country
Someone who is not loyal to their own country and helps the enemy instead.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a traitor to [a country]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "traitor" with "trader" because they sound similar. A "traitor" betrays trust, but a "trader" buys and sells things. Another common mistake is saying "traitor of his country" instead of the correct phrase "traitor to his country".
Synonyms
betrayer (More general and slightly formal; not limited to countries, but can be used in this context.)
|
turncoat (Informal; emphasizes someone changing sides, especially in politics or war.)
|
collaborator (Often used for someone who cooperates with an occupying enemy power; can sound more technical or historical.)
Antonyms
patriot (Someone who strongly loves and supports their country, the opposite of betraying it.)
|
loyalist (Someone who stays loyal to the existing government or ruler instead of betraying them.)
Collocations
traitor to his country
|accused of being a traitor
|an infamous traitor
|call someone a traitor
|label someone a traitor
|traitors and spies
Themes
politics
|conflict
|law
|relationships
Examples
- During the war he was branded a traitor for passing secrets to the enemy.
- Some people still call her a traitor to her country for speaking out against the government.
- The general denied that he was a traitor and insisted he had acted to save his nation.
- History books remember him as a hero at home and a traitor abroad.
- Anyone who joins the invading army will be treated as a traitor under the law.
Learner examples
- The soldier was called a traitor after he helped the enemy.
- They said the politician was a traitor to his country.
- In the movie, the traitor gives secret plans to another nation.
- People feared there was a traitor inside the government.
- He went to jail because the court decided he was a traitor.
Noun
B2
entity
2
person who betrays trust or cause
Someone who is not loyal to a person, group, or idea and helps the other side instead.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a traitor to [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners may think "traitor" can be used for any person who simply leaves a group, but it usually implies a serious sense of betrayal, not just a normal decision to change jobs or teams. Also, the preposition is usually "to" ("a traitor to his team"), not "for" or "of".
Synonyms
backstabber (Informal; emphasizes secretly hurting a friend or colleague who trusts you.)
|
double-crosser (Informal; often used when someone breaks an agreement and secretly helps the other side.)
|
betrayer (More general; can be used in many situations where trust is broken, not only political ones.)
Antonyms
ally (Someone who stays on your side and supports you instead of betraying you.)
|
loyalist (Someone who remains faithful to a leader, group, or cause and does not turn against them.)
Collocations
traitor to the cause
|feel like a traitor
|see someone as a traitor
|call someone a traitor
|traitor within the team
|turn traitor against friends
Themes
relationships
|trust
|conflict
|work
|business
Examples
- She was called a traitor to the movement after she spoke publicly against its leaders.
- He felt like a traitor for leaving the company right before the crisis.
- To her supporters, anyone who cooperates with the rival group is a traitor.
- They accused him of being a traitor to his friends when he revealed their secret.
- In the story, the traitor inside the gang tells the police about their plans.
Learner examples
- He was seen as a traitor to his team when he joined their biggest rival.
- She felt like a traitor to her friend after sharing the secret.
- They called him a traitor because he voted against his own party.
- Some workers think anyone who talks to the boss is a traitor.
- The group looked for the traitor who gave their plan to the other side.
Noun
informal
C1
entity
3
playful word for minor betrayal
A funny or friendly way to talk about someone who chooses another team, group, or thing, when it is not serious.
Usage pattern:
you traitor! [as an exclamation to someone]
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that in these situations, "traitor" is often used jokingly and does not mean real, serious betrayal. Tone of voice and context are important.
Synonyms
sellout (Informal and often critical; can be stronger and less playful than "traitor" in some contexts.)
Antonyms
team player (Someone who stays with and supports their team instead of switching sides, even in a light context.)
Collocations
you traitor!
|little traitor
|total traitor
|such a traitor
|bit of a traitor
|playful traitor
Themes
humor
|relationships
|daily life
|communication
|daily_life
Examples
- You bought the other team's jersey? You traitor!
- When he ordered pineapple on the pizza, his friends laughed and called him a traitor.
- My kids think I'm a traitor because I like the rival football club now.
- She jokingly yelled, "Traitor!" when her sister went for coffee without her.
- Choosing Android after years of using Apple, he was teased as a traitor by his friends.
Learner examples
- When I cheered for the other team, my friend said, "You traitor!"
- She called me a traitor because I liked a different band.
- They laughed and shouted "traitor" when he changed his favorite team.
- My brother jokes that I am a traitor for using another phone brand.
- He said, "Traitor!" when I sat with the other group at lunch, but he was only joking.
Grammar
Dictionary form
traitor
IPA
GB/tɹˈeɪtɚ/
US/tɹˈeɪtɚ/
Syllables & stress
trait - or (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (trait)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: traitor
- Plural: traitors
Word family
Expressions
traitor in our midst
1/tɹˈeɪtɚ ˈɪn ˈaʊɚ mˈɪdst/
fixed phrase
betrayer hidden inside our group
A person inside our group who secretly works against us.
Examples
- The leader warned that there was a traitor in our midst and told everyone to be careful.
- They discovered the traitor in our midst only after the plan had already failed.
traitor to his country
1/tɹˈeɪtɚ tə hˈɪz kˈʌntɹi/
fixed phrase
person who betrays his country
A man who is not loyal to his country and helps the enemy.
Examples
- The judge called him a traitor to his country and gave him a life sentence.
- Anyone who helps the invaders will be seen as a traitor to his country.
traitor to the cause
1/tɹˈeɪtɚ tə ðə kˈɔz/
fixed phrase
person who betrays a cause
Someone who stops supporting a group or idea and acts against it.
Examples
- Many activists saw her as a traitor to the cause after she joined the rival organization.
- He refused the offer because he did not want to be a traitor to the cause he had fought for.
turn traitor
1/tˈɚn tɹˈeɪtɚ/
fixed phrase
start acting as a traitor
To stop being loyal to someone or something and start helping the other side.
Examples
- Several officers turned traitor and joined the rebels.
- He swore he would never turn traitor, no matter how much money they offered.
you traitor
1/jˈu tɹˈeɪtɚ/
fixed phrase
informal
exclamation accusing someone of betrayal
Something you say to a person, seriously or jokingly, when you feel they have not been loyal.
Examples
- You went to the party without me? You traitor!
- He laughed and shouted, "You traitor!" when his friend changed teams.