Word
treason
Phoneticstrea·son, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtɹizən/
UK/tɹˈiːzən/
Definitions
01betrayal of one's country
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Law Formal
n. the crime of helping your country's enemies or trying to destroy its government.
n. the criminal act of betraying one's own nation, especially by attempting to overthrow the government or assisting an enemy during wartime.
“The soldier was found guilty of treason for selling secret documents to the enemy.”
“The high court deliberated for weeks before convicting the former official of high treason for his role in the failed coup attempt.”
Usage
Often used in the phrase 'high treason' to describe the most serious level of the crime.
Teaching tip
In modern legal contexts, this is a very specific and rare charge; in casual conversation, it is often used hyperbolically to describe any major betrayal.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02betrayal of trust
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Literary
n. a major act of being disloyal to someone who trusts you.
n. a violation of allegiance or of faith and confidence; a figurative extension of the legal crime to personal relationships.
Español:traición
“To many fans, the captain's decision to join a rival team felt like a personal treason.”
“She viewed his sudden silence not merely as a misunderstanding, but as a profound treason against their decade-long friendship.”
Teaching tip
This sense is more common in literature or dramatic speech than in everyday functional English.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“To punish the rebels for their treason, Parliament passed the New England Restraining Act of 1775, banning locals from fishing in the Atlantic Ocean.” “Traditionally, treason and traitor comes with a death sentence, historically.” Etymology
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/treason
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0