turncoat

Meaning

Noun

A traitor; one who turns against a previous affiliation or allegiance.

Verb

To act as a turncoat; to betray

Synonyms

traitor

deserter

apostate

renegade

informer

double-dealer

betrayer

recreant

defector

ratter

knobstick

duplicity

scab

seceder

secessionist

strikebreaker

timeserver

wheeler

fence-sitter

Jim-Crow

Translations

Überläufer

tránsfuga

αποστάτης

renegado

girouette

transfuge

Verräter

Überläuferin

giravolta

déserteur

lâcheur

pentito

banderuola

disertore

renégat

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈtəːn.kəʊt/

Etymology

A compound of turn + coat, reportedly derived from the sometime military practice of wearing uniform coats that were lined in material of a contrasting color, and which could be worn inside out to present a different appearance.