Noun: treason tree-zun
- A crime that undermines the offender's government
"He was charged with high treason for attempting to overthrow the monarchy";
- high treason, lese majesty
- Disloyalty by virtue of subversive behaviour
"The spy's treason threatened national security";
- subversiveness, traitorousness
- An act of deliberate betrayal
"The spy's treason was discovered too late";
- treachery, betrayal, perfidy
Derived forms: treasons
Type of: betrayal, crime, criminal offence [Brit, Cdn], criminal offense [US], dishonesty, disloyalty, knavery [archaic], law-breaking, roguishness
Encyclopedia: Treason