turncoat

/ˈtɜːnkəʊt/ (bre, ipa) · [tˈɚnkˌot] /ˈtɜːrnkəʊt/ (ame, ipa) · [tˈɚnkˌot] /ˈtərn-ˌkōt How to pronounce turncoat (audio)/ (ame, mw)

turncoat — noun

  • turncoatsingular
  • turncoatsplural

1. a person who abandons their original group or cause and begins supporting the op

1.名詞B2
釋義

a person who abandons their original group or cause and begins supporting the opposing side.

例句

Party members called Jude a turncoat after he backed the rival candidate.

pattern: call someone a turncoat

During the strike, coworkers treated Vivek like a turncoat for helping management.

同義詞
  • traitor

    broader and often stronger; can refer to betraying a country, cause, or trusted person

  • defector

    more neutral and often official, especially when someone leaves a country or organisation

  • renegade

    can suggest rebellion or rejection of accepted loyalties, not always a direct side switch

反義詞
  • loyalist

    someone who stays faithful to the side or group they support

  • ally

    a person or group that continues to support the same side

用法筆記

Strongly negative. It is often used in political, military, or activist settings when someone is seen as helping the side they once opposed.

常見錯誤

❌Nina became a turncoat when she moved to another company.
✅Nina became a turncoat when she joined the rival campaign and attacked her former party.
💡'turncoat' implies disloyalty to a side or cause, not just changing jobs.