defectionnoun [ C or U ]
uk/dɪˈfek.ʃən/us/dɪˈfek.ʃən/the act of leaving a country, political party, etc. to go to another one:
Over the years there were hundreds of defections to the West/defections from the East.
Recent changes in policy have resulted in large-scale defection from the party.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Running away and escaping
- abscond
- back away
- back off
- bail out
- be at large idiom
- be on the run idiom
- fugitive
- gaolbreak
- getaway
- go/be run to ground idiom
- heel
- jailbreak
- leg
- loose
- shake sb/sth off
- shoot through
- skedaddle
- slip
- stand clear
- throw
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