PoliticsJuly 14, 2026

treason

/ˈtriːzən/

Definition

The crime of betraying one's country or government, historically implying a severe breach of allegiance or an act intended to overthrow the state.

Etymology

Derived from the Old French 'traison,' which comes from the Latin 'traditio' meaning 'a handing over' or 'delivery.' It originally referred to the act of betraying someone into the hands of an enemy.

In the news

The word is used in a quote by Song Young-gil to describe how intense political conflict was historically framed as a grave threat to the state, highlighting the severity of current political rhetoric.

President Lee to Receive Policy Briefings with Public Participation Starting Tomorrow; 200 Citizens to Attend

Read the full article ↗

news.sbs.co.kr

Related words

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.

Not for marketing. One email on launch day.