treason

noun

trea·son ˈtrē-zᵊn

: the offense of attempting by overt acts to overthrow the government of the state to which the offender owes allegiance or to kill or personally injure the sovereign or the sovereign's family

: the betrayal of a trust : treachery

Example Sentences

He is guilty of treason. reading a friend's diary without permission would have to be regarded as the ultimate act of personal treason

Recent Examples on the Web Ross was arrested at the end of the film after being accused of treason by CIA Director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), though he's freed by the Wakandans.

Brendan Morrow, The Week, 15 Nov. 2022 Biden, according to the White House, also pushed Hun Sen to release activists including Theary Seng, a Cambodian-American lawyer who was convicted of treason as the prime minister’s long-running rule aimed to crack down on his opposition.

Seung Min Kim And Zeke Miller, Anchorage Daily News, 12 Nov. 2022 Nearly 400 years ago, the trial of Charles I—he was convicted of treason and sentenced to death by beheading—took place in the already ancient Westminster Hall.

Catherine Ostler, WSJ, 7 Oct. 2022 Ukrainian prosecutors have charged Saldo with treason.

Harold Maass, The Week, 14 Oct. 2022 He was charged with treason last year and allegedly escaped house arrest in February, two days after the Russian invasion, according to Kyiv.

Robyn Dixon, Washington Post, 22 Sep. 2022 Russian police arrested five people who proposed officials arrest and charge Vladimir Putin with treason for his decision to launch the invasion of Ukraine, which has led to catastrophic outcomes for Russia and its interests.

Peter Aitken, Fox News, 10 Sep. 2022 Zelensky’s government had charged Medvedchuk with treason in May 2021 and placed him under house arrest.

Greg Miller And Catherine Belton, Anchorage Daily News, 19 Aug. 2022 She was later placed under house arrest for nearly eight and a half months and charged with treason.

Tenzin Shakya, ABC News, 3 June 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'treason.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English tresoun, from Anglo-French traisun, from Latin tradition-, traditio act of handing over, from tradere to hand over, betray — more at traitor

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler

The first known use of treason was in the 13th century

See more words from the same century

Articles Related to treason

The Good, The Bad, & The...

Some of the words that defined the week of October 4, 2019

Words for an Impeachment

A guide to the associated terms

What Is 'Treason,' Anyway?

Some clarification on a complicated word

Cite this Entry

Style

“Treason.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/treason. Accessed 7 Dec. 2022.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

treason

noun

trea·son ˈtrēz-ᵊn

: the betrayal of a trust : treachery

: the crime of attempting to overthrow the government of one's country or of attempting to kill or injure the ruler or the ruler's family

Legal Definition

treason

noun

trea·son ˈtrēz-ᵊn

: the offense of attempting to overthrow the government of one's country or of assisting its enemies in war

specifically : the act of levying war against the United States or adhering to or giving aid and comfort to its enemies by one who owes it allegiance

treasonous

-əs

adjective

History and Etymology for treason

Anglo-French treison crime of violence against a person to whom allegiance is owed, literally, betrayal, from Old French traïson, from traïr to betray, from Latin tradere to hand over, surrender