Word
betrayal
Phoneticsbe·tray·al, stress on the second syllable
US/bɪˈtɹeɪəɫ/
UK/bɪtɹˈeɪəl/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. an act of hurting someone who trusts you, such as a friend or partner. It happens when you break a promise or help an enemy.
n. the act of violating trust, confidence, or an inherited bond of loyalty. Often involves aiding an adversary or failing to uphold a moral or personal commitment.
Examples
“Sharing her secret with the whole school was a huge betrayal.”
“He felt a deep sense of betrayal when he discovered his business partner had been stealing from the company.”
“The novel explores the psychological impact of political betrayal, focusing on how a single informant's actions destroyed an entire underground resistance movement.”
Examples
simple
“Sharing her secret with the whole school was a huge betrayal.”
contextual
“He felt a deep sense of betrayal when he discovered his business partner had been stealing from the company.”
complex
“The novel explores the psychological impact of political betrayal, focusing on how a single informant's actions destroyed an entire underground resistance movement.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the abstract concept of disloyalty; countable when referring to specific instances or acts.
Real-World Examples
“When it turned out she had, the aunt’s berserk response to what she saw as a family betrayal was crucial to the story.” “Outlining why Patterson's crime was so "dreadful", they talked of the "betrayal of trust" of family members whom she had invited for lunch.” Etymology
From betray + -al.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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