defection

de·fect  (dfkt, d-fkt)

n.

1. The lack of something necessary or desirable for completion or perfection; a deficiency: a visual defect.

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

intr.v. (d-fkt) 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 dfectus, failure, want, from past participle of dficere, to desert, be wanting : d-, de- + facere, to do; see dh- in Indo-European roots.]

---

de·fection n.

de·fector n.

---

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.

See also: Allegiance

Thesaurus

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

---

defection

noun desertion, revolt, rebellion, abandonment, dereliction, backsliding, apostasy