If you describe someone as a turncoat, you think they are disloyal or deceitful, because they have left their party or organization and joined an opposing one.
[disapproval]
His one-time admirers now accuse him of being a turncoat.
Synonyms: traitor, renegade, defector, seceder More Synonyms of turncoat
turncoat in British English
(ˈtɜːnˌkəʊt)
noun
a person who deserts one cause or party for the opposite faction; renegade
turncoat in American English
(ˈtɜrnˌkoʊt)
noun
a person who goes over to the opposite side or party; traitor
Word origin
from the notion of a coat worn right side out or inside out, according to circumstances
Examples of 'turncoat' in a sentence
turncoat
He was taken to Berlin, questioned in a rather cursory fashion, apparently accepted as a genuine turncoat and employed by them.
Ross, Melville LOHENGRIN (1999)
Your brain should ache, you reprobate, you turncoat, for daring to meddle in things that are beyond you!
Gregory Maguire CONFESSIONS OF AN UGLY STEPSISTER (1999)
(noun)
Definition
a person who deserts one cause or party to join an opposing one
His one-time admirers now accused him of being a turncoat.
Synonyms
traitor
Some say he's a traitor to the working class.
renegade
He was a renegade – a traitor.
defector
The defectors included some of the ablest people in the party.
seceder
deserter
He was a deserter from the army.
apostate
He was an early apostate, leaving the party last year.
backslider
I've never heard of him punishing a backslider.
recreant (archaic)
tergiversator
rat (informal)
He was known as `The Rat', even before the bribes had come to light.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of apostate
Definition
a person who has abandoned his or her religion, political party, or cause
He was an early apostate, leaving the party last year.
Synonyms
deserter,
traitor,
renegade,
defector,
heretic,
turncoat,
backslider,
recreant (archaic)
in the sense of backslider
I've never heard of him punishing a backslider.
Synonyms
relapser,
renegade,
reneger,
deserter,
fallen angel,
turncoat,
apostate
in the sense of defector
The defectors included some of the ablest people in the party.
Synonyms
deserter,
renegade,
turncoat,
apostate,
recreant (archaic),
runagate (archaic),
tergiversator
Nearby words of
turncoat
turn up
turn up your nose at or turn your nose up at something or someone
turn your stomach
turncoat
turning
turning point
turnout
Synonyms of 'turncoat'
turncoat
Explore 'turncoat' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of deserter
He was a deserter from the army.
Synonyms
defector,
runaway,
fugitive,
traitor,
renegade,
truant,
escapee,
absconder,
apostate
in the sense of rat
Definition
someone who is disloyal or treacherous
He was known as `The Rat', even before the bribes had come to light.