treason
TREE-zuhn
/ˈtriːzən/
The crime of betraying one's country, especially by attempting to kill the sovereign or overthrow the government.
A specific legal and political term; it is the ultimate crime against the state.
The story behind the word. Treason shares its origin with 'betray'. It comes from the Old French 'traison', which derives from the Latin 'traditionem' (a handing over or surrender), from 'tradere'. It originally referred to handing over a city or army to the enemy.
Word relationships
- sedition: Sedition is conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against authority, while treason is the actual act of betraying the state.
- patriotism: Patriotism is devotion to and vigorous support for one's country, the direct opposite of treason.
Commonly confused with
- reason: Reason is the power of the mind to think, while treason is the crime of betraying one's country.
Word family
- treasonous (adjective): Involving or guilty of treason.
Collocations
- commit treason
- high treason
- charged with treason
Idioms & expressions
- sell out one's country
Example sentences
- "The court found the military officer guilty of high treason after he was caught selling nuclear codes to a foreign government." A historical account of a famous trial.
Memory hook
Think of 'treason' as 'betraying the nation'. The word 'nation' is practically hidden inside the sound of 'treason'. Betraying the nation.
When not to use
Do not use for personal betrayals unless you are speaking metaphorically to emphasize the scale of the betrayal.
Fun facts
- Under the United States Constitution, treason is the only crime specifically defined in the document itself, to prevent rulers from using the charge to silence political opponents.
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