defection: Meaning and Definition of

de•fec•tion

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