treason
noun
trea·son ˈtrē-zᵊn 
1
: the offense of attempting by overt acts to overthrow the government of the state to which the offender owes allegiance or to kill or personally injure the sovereign or the sovereign's family
2
: the betrayal of a trust : treachery
Synonyms
- backstabbing
- betrayal
- business
- disloyalty
- double cross
- faithlessness
- falseness
- falsity
- infidelity
- perfidy
- sellout
- treachery
- two-timing
- unfaithfulness
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
He is guilty of treason. reading a friend's diary without permission would have to be regarded as the ultimate act of personal treason
Recent Examples on the Web Mariupol’s minister of education and four school principals are suspected of treason, the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine said. 
Celina Tebor, USA TODAY, 19 Aug. 2022 The show, after all, is mostly concerned with family tree building and palace intrigue and not White Walkers nor acts of treason. Joey Morona, cleveland, 19 Aug. 2022 On July 17th, Zelensky fired Venediktova, along with Ivan Bakanov, the head of the S.B.U., amid reports of treason in their ranks. Masha Gessen, The New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2022 Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has fired two of his top officials, accusing members of their staff of treason and collaborating with Russia. Alexandra Meeks, CNN, 18 July 2022 They are accused of trying to spark a second Civil War ahead of the 2020 presidential election by plotting to kidnap Whitmer at her northern Michigan vacation home and put her on trial for treason. Robert Snell, Anchorage Daily News, 13 Aug. 2022 Mosley and his wife, Diana Mitford Mosley, were eventually imprisoned for treason at Holloway Prison. Lauren Young, WSJ, 12 Aug. 2022 The men were accused of trying to spark a second Civil War ahead of the 2020 presidential election, abduct Whitmer at her northern Michigan vacation home and put her on trial for treason. Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 10 Aug. 2022 The only fate worse than jail time for treason is plantar fasciitis. Outside Online, 22 July 2022 See More
Celina Tebor, USA TODAY, 19 Aug. 2022 The show, after all, is mostly concerned with family tree building and palace intrigue and not White Walkers nor acts of treason. Joey Morona, cleveland, 19 Aug. 2022 On July 17th, Zelensky fired Venediktova, along with Ivan Bakanov, the head of the S.B.U., amid reports of treason in their ranks. Masha Gessen, The New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2022 Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has fired two of his top officials, accusing members of their staff of treason and collaborating with Russia. Alexandra Meeks, CNN, 18 July 2022 They are accused of trying to spark a second Civil War ahead of the 2020 presidential election by plotting to kidnap Whitmer at her northern Michigan vacation home and put her on trial for treason. Robert Snell, Anchorage Daily News, 13 Aug. 2022 Mosley and his wife, Diana Mitford Mosley, were eventually imprisoned for treason at Holloway Prison. Lauren Young, WSJ, 12 Aug. 2022 The men were accused of trying to spark a second Civil War ahead of the 2020 presidential election, abduct Whitmer at her northern Michigan vacation home and put her on trial for treason. Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 10 Aug. 2022 The only fate worse than jail time for treason is plantar fasciitis. Outside Online, 22 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English tresoun, from Anglo-French traisun, from Latin tradition-, traditio act of handing over, from tradere to hand over, betray — more at traitor
First Known Use
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Phrases Containing treason
Kids Definition
treason
noun
trea·son ˈtrē-zᵊn
: the crime of trying or helping to overthrow the government of the criminal's own country or cause its defeat in war
Legal Definition
treason
noun
trea·son ˈtrēz-ᵊn
: the offense of attempting to overthrow the government of one's country or of assisting its enemies in war
specifically : the act of levying war against the United States or adhering to or giving aid and comfort to its enemies by one who owes it allegiance
treason
noun
as in treachery
the act or fact of violating the trust or confidence of another reading a friend's diary without permission would have to be regarded as the ultimate act of personal treason Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- treachery
- betrayal
- disloyalty
- perfidy
- deception
- infidelity
- deceit
- desertion
- faithlessness
- backstabbing
- lying
- unfaithfulness
- sellout
- abandonment
- falseness
- double cross
- falsity
- business
- duplicity
- two-timing
- fraud
- trickery
- double-dealing
- guile
- informing
- snitching
- two-facedness
- talebearing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- loyalty
- allegiance
- fidelity
- fealty
- devotion
- steadfastness
- faithfulness
- staunchness
- defense
- reliability
- protection
- trustworthiness
- shield
- dependability
- safeguard