noun
turncoat
TURN-koht/ˈtɜːrnkəʊt/
A person who betrays a cause or group by switching sides.
The turncoat exchanges his team's jacket for the opposing team's colors.
Etymology
Turning a coat inside out would hide the badge of one’s party or leader. This image of concealing allegiance became a name for someone who abandons one side for another.
In context
he was actually going to be a turncoat.
More examples
- The turncoat supplied the enemy with secret plans.
- She was called a turncoat after joining the rival party.
- The commander refused to trust the notorious turncoat.
Forms
turncoat · turncoats
Similar words
- traitor
- Traitor is broader; turncoat specifically emphasizes changing allegiance.
- defector
- Defector can be a neutral description; turncoat condemns the switch as betrayal.