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Traitor vs Backstabber - What's the difference?

traitor | backstabber |

As nouns the difference between traitor and backstabber

is that traitor is one who violates his allegiance and betrays his/her country; one guilty of treason; one who, in breach of trust, delivers his country to an enemy, or yields up any fort or place intrusted to his defense, or surrenders an army or body of troops to the enemy, unless when vanquished; also, one who takes arms and levies war against his country; or one who aids an enemy in conquering his country while backstabber is a traitor or hypocrite, such as a co-worker or friend assumed trustworthy but who figuratively attacks when one's back is turned.

As a verb traitor

is to act the traitor toward; to betray; to deceive.

As an adjective traitor

is traitorous.

traitor

English

Alternative forms

* traitour (obsolete)

Noun

(en noun)
  • One who violates his allegiance and betrays his/her country; one guilty of treason; one who, in breach of trust, delivers his country to an enemy, or yields up any fort or place intrusted to his defense, or surrenders an army or body of troops to the enemy, unless when vanquished; also, one who takes arms and levies war against his country; or one who aids an enemy in conquering his country.
  • Hence, one who betrays any confidence or trust.

    • Synonyms

    *(one who betrays a confidence or trust) betrayer, fink

    See also

    * Benedict Arnold * Quisling * Judas

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To act the traitor toward; to betray; to deceive.

    • Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • traitorous
    • (Spenser)
    (Alexander Pope)

    backstabber

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A traitor or hypocrite, such as a co-worker or friend assumed trustworthy but who figuratively attacks when one's back is turned.