defection: Meaning and Definition of
de•fec•tion
Pronunciation: (di-fek'shun), [key]
— n.
- desertion from allegiance, loyalty, duty, or the like; apostasy: His defection to East Germany was regarded as treasonable.
- failure; lack; loss: He was overcome by a sudden defection of courage.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.