# Brutus

/ˈbɹutəs/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/brutus
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a person who betrays a friend or someone who trusts them. It comes from the name of the man who helped kill Julius Caesar.

For teachers: a traitor or betrayer, specifically one who turns against a close friend or benefactor. Derived from the historical figure Marcus Junius Brutus; often used as an antonym for a loyalist.

## Examples

- He felt like a Brutus after voting against his best friend.
- The politician was labeled a Brutus by his former colleagues after he defected to the rival party during the crisis.

## Usage notes

- When used as a common noun to mean 'traitor', it is often capitalized due to its origins as a proper name.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.