defection

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'defection' is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is often used to describe the act of abandoning or betraying one's country, organization, or cause. It can also refer to the act of leaving one group or party to join another. Example: The politician's defection from his party caused a major shift in the balance of power in the government.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The prime minister tried to move the focus to Miliband after Reckless, whose defection from the Conservatives triggered the byelection, inflicted a humiliating blow.

The Guardian

These soldiers had no place to hide after their defection but went to the people living in these neighbourhoods to give them a shelter.

The Guardian

The byelection, caused by the defection of the Tory MP Mark Reckless, is likely in early November.

The Guardian

His comments came as Syria's deputy oil minister announced his defection, making himthe highest ranking official to abandon Assad's regime since the country's uprising erupted a year ago.

The Guardian

His defection personified the decline in fortunes of the party in the Republic of Ireland, where it lost its sole European seat in June and has seen its representation in the Dáil reduced.

The Guardian

While his defection may prove a double-edged sword for Labour, and it may even disrupt Ukip, it is really horrible for David Cameron.

The Guardian - Opinion

As is normal journalistic protocol, I sought opinion on the mass defection from the party leader.

The Guardian

Labour survived Oswald Mosley's disloyalty in the 1930s, though his economic analysis was smarter than theirs (William Jennings Bryan too?), just as it did the SDP gang of four's defection in the 1980s.

The Guardian

Kerr's defection to the anti-Agreement camp marked a serious setback for Trimble.

The Guardian

But the defection of Abdo Hussameldin, a relatively minor and unknown figure outside of Damascus, underscores the difficulties Syria's fragmented opposition has had in persuading senior regime figures to abandon Assad.

The Guardian

The Clacton byelection was caused by the defection of the former Tory MP Douglas Carswell, who is standing as the Ukip candidate.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "defection" specifically when describing the act of leaving a political party, government, or military force for an opposing side. It requires the prepositions "from" for the original entity and "to" for the new destination.

Common error

Avoid using "defection" when you mean a physical or functional flaw. While a "defect" can be a noun meaning a flaw, "defection" exclusively refers to the act of abandoning a cause or country. You would say 'a defect in the engine' but 'his "defection" to the rival party'.

Linguistic Context

As a singular noun, "defection" functions as the subject or object of a sentence to denote the specific act of abandoning an allegiance. In the examples provided by Ludwig, it often serves as the trigger for a chain of events, such as a by-election or a government collapse.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

92%

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

3%

Less common in

Social Media

0.5%

Science

0.3%

Wiki

0.2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "defection" is a robust and precise noun used to describe the act of abandoning a country, party, or cause. Ludwig demonstrates that it is a staple of political journalism, particularly when discussing shifts in power or loyalty. According to Ludwig AI, the term is grammatically correct and most effective when paired with the prepositions "from" and "to". It carries a professional yet serious tone, distinguishing itself from more casual terms by implying a strategic or moral consequence to the departure.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

desertion

Implies an abandonment of duty, often used in a military or moral context.

party-switching

Specifies the act within a political framework, usually involving a change in membership.

apostasy

Focuses on the abandonment of a religious or political belief system.

crossing the floor

A specific parliamentary idiom for changing political allegiance during a session.

abandonment

A more general term for leaving a person, place, or cause behind.

renunciation

Highlights the formal rejection of a former claim or identity.

betrayal

Carries a heavier moral judgment, implying a breach of trust.

absconding

Suggests leaving secretly or suddenly, often to avoid detection or legal consequences.

disloyalty

Describes the character trait or state that leads to the act of leaving.

flight

Emphasizes the act of running away or escaping from a situation.

FAQs

How do I use "defection" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a shift in loyalty, such as: "The minister announced his "defection" from the government yesterday." It is often found in political reporting to signal a major change in power dynamics.

What is a common synonym for "defection"?

Depending on the context, you might use "desertion" if it involves a duty, or "renunciation" if it is about a formal rejection of beliefs.

What is the difference between "defection" and "party-switching"?

While "party-switching" is a neutral description of changing political groups, "defection" often carries a more dramatic or traitorous connotation, suggesting a significant blow to the group left behind.

Is it "defection" or "defections"?

Both are correct. Use the singular "defection" for a single event and the plural "defections" when referring to multiple people or instances, such as "the mass defections from the army."