traitors

Traitors are individuals who betray trust or allegiance, typically by assisting an enemy or abandoning duties to a country, government, organization, or cause. The label is most often applied in political or military contexts, but it can describe betrayal within organizations as well.

Etymology: from Latin traditor, "one who hands over." The term "turncoat" is a colloquial synonym for someone who changes sides, while "quisling" (from Vidkun Quisling) has become a common descriptor for a government collaborator.

Legal concept: In many jurisdictions, treason is the crime of betraying one’s country, usually defined as levying war against the state, aiding its enemies, or betraying secrets. Penalties vary and can include long prison terms or capital punishment; some modern systems limit treason definitions to acts of armed aggression or espionage.

Historical examples: Notable traitors include Judas Iscariot (betrayal of Jesus), Brutus (Julius Caesar), Benedict Arnold (American Revolutionary War), Vidkun Quisling (World War II Norway), and the Rosenbergs (Ethel and Julius) in the United States; in espionage, figures such as Aldrich Ames and Robert Hanssen compromised U.S. security.

Nuance: Not all betrayals meet legal definitions of treason. Whistleblowing or dissent may reveal wrongdoing without betraying a nation, depending on laws and motives; the label traitor is often contested and can reflect political or moral judgments as much as legal status.