Definition
A person who betrays a former allegiance, principle, or group to join the opposing side; a traitor or defector.
Example Usage
Once a staunch supporter of the regime, he was branded a turncoat after he publicly switched his allegiance to the opposition.
Origin
Likely from 17th-century military origin, referring to a soldier who would turn his coat inside-out to change which army he appeared to serve, symbolizing allegiance shift; some sources connect it to literal coats with reversible colors.
Fun Fact
The term gained particular prominence during the English Civil War and American Revolutionary War, where defections were common and considered especially dishonorable.
Source: Definition backfill (hailey)
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See “Turncoat” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
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