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Glite Dictionary
traitress

traitress

9.9
A woman who betrays people or groups she should support
  • noun
  • /ˈtreɪtrəs/
  • Archaic
translation icon : traidora
  • I did not have you down as a traitress.

Examples

  • Many viewed her actions as those of a traitress when she revealed government secrets.

  • The queen was labeled a traitress for siding with the enemy during the war.

  • In the story, the protagonist discovers that his closest ally is actually a traitress.

Synonyms

traitor
vstraitress
  • Offensive
381 3.9

A person who breaks the trust of their country, group, or friend to help an enemy

is the female-specific term for that same kind of person
betrayer
vstraitress
26 6.3

A person who breaks someone's trust by revealing secrets

is focused on betrayal of a country or cause rather than any disloyal act
treacher
vstraitress
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who betrays trust or their country

is the modern female-specific term used instead of this archaic wording
treasonist
vstraitress
  • Formal
9.9

A person who betrays their country by giving secrets to enemies

is broader, covering betrayal of a cause or group, not only legal treason

Antonyms

patriotism
90 3.8

Strong love and support for your country, often shown by helping or defending it

Surface Forms

traitress singular
traitresses plural

Morphology

traitress = traitor (transparent) = traitor + ess

Formed as the feminine counterpart of 'traitor' using the familiar suffix '-ess', so the meaning is directly clear to learners.

Etymology

The word traitress is the female form of traitor, from an old word that meant 'to hand over' or 'give to the enemy'. The ending -ess marks a woman, as in actress or waitress, so a traitress is a woman who betrays others by 'handing them over' to the enemy.