defected

Defected is the past tense and past participle of the verb defect. It is used to describe someone who has left their country, government, or organization to join or support an opposing side or another allegiance, typically for political reasons, asylum, or ideological shift. It can apply to individuals or to groups.

Defection is most commonly discussed in political, military, or espionage contexts. The term can also describe sports or other non-political contexts when an individual leaves a team or organization; in those cases, the sense is often more neutral or dependent on the perspective of the remaining side.

Notable usage: historical defections during conflicts or revolutions; modern defections sometimes lead to legal consequences, including loss of citizenship, criminal charges, or exile, depending on jurisdiction and motivation.

Etymology: defect comes from Latin defectus/deficere via Old French defection; the sense of "to abandon" dates to the medieval period, with "defected" formed in English to indicate completed action.

See also defection, desertion, asylum, espionage, betrayal.