defection out

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "defection out" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It seems to be an attempt to express the act of leaving or abandoning a group, but it is not a standard expression. Example: "His defection out of the organization surprised everyone."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Through its central character, Martin Glass, Edgar was able both to explore his own past as an activist and possible fantasy futures as a sceptic and reactionary: "I tried his defection out on myself.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

An accelerating covert campaign of assassinations, bombings, cyberattacks and defections — carried out mainly by Israel, according to The Times — is slowing the program, but whether that is enough is unclear.

The New York Times

"The defections out of Cuba have changed so much in recent years, from the older guys who were at the tail end of their career to these much younger players who have most or all of their professional career ahead of them," Kehoskie says.

Los Angeles Times

Later that year, Mr. Sayle snared the first interview by a Western reporter with Mr. Philby, four years after his defection, by staking out a Moscow post office in the hope that Mr. Philby would stop by.

The New York Times

News of the defection has trickled out this week as opposition lawmakers here, who apparently learned of it through a leak, have pressed the government to explain how such a security breach could have happened, and on Thursday President Lee Myung-bak ordered that border guards in the area be disciplined.

The New York Times

City and state officials, eager to prevent the defection, hand out tax breaks worth millions of dollars.

The New York Times

Sources said it was a condition of his defection, borne out of frustration that he got no financial reward for his Princess Diana scoop.

The Guardian

Albany disintegrated into a long drama of party defection and locked-out state senators: Rain rage!

The New York Times

He locked the capitol chamber, to prevent any more defections, and called out state troopers to hunt down the missing members, who became known as the Killer Ds.

The New Yorker

Since the uprising, the military and, in particular, the security forces have returned to the forefront, and they have remained unified despite occasional defections in carrying out a crackdown that some activists say has killed more than 2,000 people.

The New York Times

While some New Jersey municipalities have canceled their contracts with BeneCard in recent months, complaining of steep price increases, most of those defections were carried out by Democratic elected officials, and the company receives generally favorable reviews from most clients.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "defection out" as it is grammatically incorrect. Opt for more standard phrases like "defection from" or "desertion from" to ensure clarity and correctness.

Common error

A common mistake is using "out" after "defection" instead of the correct preposition "from". Always use "defection from" when referring to leaving a group or cause.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "defection out" is intended to describe the act of abandoning a cause, belief, or allegiance. However, it is not grammatically sound. As Ludwig AI points out, it's better to say "defection from."

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "defection out" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI clarifies, it is not a standard expression. While the intent is to describe someone leaving or abandoning a group, the correct and more common phrasing is "defection from". Although examples from authoritative sources like The Guardian and The New York Times exist, the phrase's infrequent usage and grammatical issues suggest it should be avoided in formal writing. Instead, opt for alternatives like "defection from" or "desertion from" to ensure clarity and correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

defecting from

Uses the verb form of "defection" with the correct preposition.

defection from

Uses the preposition "from" instead of "out" to indicate leaving a group or cause.

desertion from

Replaces "defection" with "desertion", emphasizing abandonment.

departure from

Uses "departure" to soften the negative connotation of "defection".

leaving

A simpler and more general term for abandoning a position or group.

abandoning

Emphasizes the act of giving up or forsaking something.

breaking away from

Suggests a more forceful and intentional separation.

apostasy from

Implies renunciation of a religious or political belief.

secession from

Refers to formally withdrawing from an organization or alliance.

resignation from

Suggests a formal and often voluntary act of leaving a position.

FAQs

What is the correct preposition to use with "defection"?

The correct preposition to use with "defection" is "from". You should say "defection from" a group or cause, not "defection out".

What can I say instead of "defection out"?

Instead of "defection out", you can use phrases like "defection from", "desertion from", or "departure from" depending on the context.

Is "defection out" grammatically correct?

No, "defection out" is not grammatically correct. The correct usage is "defection from".

How does "defection from" differ in meaning from other similar phrases?

"Defection from" specifically implies abandoning loyalty or allegiance. Alternatives like "resignation from" or "departure from" might suggest a more neutral or voluntary act of leaving.