PoliticsSeptember 2, 2026

defection

dee-FEK-shun

Definition

The act of deserting or abandoning one's political party or organization to join an opposing side.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'defectio', meaning a desertion or revolt, which comes from the verb 'deficere', meaning to fail or desert.

In the news

The term is used in the article's related news to describe a former political party chairman leaving his party to join another, illustrating the political shifts the workshop aims to address.

Ogun Police to Train 520 Stakeholders on Election Security

Read the full article ↗

Punch Newspapers

Related words

embezzlement

The act of dishonestly taking or misappropriating money or property that one has been…

Politics

allay

To diminish or put at rest fears, concerns, or suspicions.

Politics

coerced

Persuaded or forced to do something against one's will by using threats or pressure.

Politics

disavow

To deny any responsibility for, support of, or connection with someone or something.

Politics

equivocal

Open to more than one interpretation; being intentionally ambiguous, uncertain, or…

Politics

moroseness

A state of feeling gloomy, sullen, or ill-tempered, often characterized by a lack of…

Politics

Learn a word like this every day

Meet one new word every morning.

Newspoken pulls one carefully chosen word from the day’s news — with a clear definition, context, and light review that makes it stick. Get it on your phone.