noun
treason
TREE-zuhn
noun
1
The crime of betraying one's own country, especially by helping its enemies or attempting to overthrow its government.
"He was charged with treason for leaking military secrets to a hostile power."
How to Use Treason
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTreason is the most serious kind of betrayal — turning against your own country.
Common pairings
commit treason
high treason
charged with treason
Word Forms
treasons plural
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He was charged with _____ for leaking military secrets to a hostile power.
Etymology
From Old French traïson, ultimately from Latin trādō, "to hand over or betray" — the same root as "tradition" and "betray."