What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Traitor vs Thief - What's the difference?

traitor | thief |

As nouns the difference between traitor and thief

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 thief is one who has carried out a theft.

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)

    thief

    English

    Noun

    (thieves)
  • One who has carried out a theft.
  • (obsolete) A waster in the snuff of a candle.
    • (Bishop Hall)

    Hyponyms

    * burglar * cat burglar * mugger * robber * pickpocket

    Related terms

    * thieve * thief in law

    Derived terms

    * *

    Anagrams

    * English nouns with irregular plurals