treason
n. uncountablen. the crime of helping your country's enemies or trying to overthrow your own government. It is considered one of the most serious crimes a person can commit against their nation.
n. the crime of betraying one's country, especially by attempting to kill the sovereign or overthrow the government. Often carries specific legal definitions involving the levying of war or providing aid and comfort to enemies.
The soldier was arrested and charged with treason.
During the revolution, several high-ranking officials were executed for treason after they were caught passing secrets to the opposing army.
The legal threshold for treason is intentionally high in many democracies to prevent the charge from being used as a political tool to silence dissent or legitimate opposition.
From Middle English tresoun, treison, from Anglo-Norman treson, from Old French traïson (“treason”), from trair, or from Latin trāditiō (“a giving up, handing over, surrender, delivery, tradition”), from trādō (“give up, hand over, deliver over, betray”, verb), from trāns- (“over, across”) + dō (“give”). Doublet of tradition.
Usually uncountable; when used as a countable noun ('treasons'), it refers to specific acts of betrayal.