Treason
/ˈtriːzən/
nounC2
Definition
Treason means when a person acts against their own country, often by helping enemies or trying to overthrow the government. It is a very serious crime because it can harm the safety and order of the whole nation.
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See It in Action
The crime of betraying one's country, especially by helping enemies
- •He was accused of treason for giving military secrets to another country.
- •Treason is punishable by law in almost every country.
- •During the war, many people were arrested for treason.
(Less common) Extreme disloyalty or betrayal in a political sense
- •Some saw his actions as treason against the party.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "treason" like "betrayal" (A2 word), but much stronger because it is against your country, not just a person
- ✓Picture a person secretly helping an enemy army or giving important secrets that can hurt their own country
- ✓It's the feeling of deep distrust and danger when someone you expect to protect your country does the opposite
- ✓Sounds like "TREE-zun" → imagine a tree that should stand strong but suddenly breaks and helps the wind blow it down
- ✓In stories and history, treason is often the crime of spies or traitors who work against their own people
- ✓NOT like "lying" (small personal dishonesty), treason is a very big and serious act against the whole country
- ✓NOT like "rebellion" (which can be a group fight or protest), treason usually means secret, illegal help to enemies or harm to government
- ✓NOT like "disloyalty" (general lack of loyalty), treason is the legal crime of serious harm to the nation
Try Other Words
- •Betrayal: breaking trust or being disloyal (Use when talking about personal or small group situations)
- •Disloyalty: lack of loyalty or faithfulness (Use when the act is less serious or not a crime)
- •Sedition: actions that encourage people to fight against the government (Use when focusing on encouraging rebellion rather than direct help to enemies)
- •Espionage: spying or secretly gathering information for enemies (Use when the crime involves spying)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: No clear prefix or suffix; the root is "treason"
- •Etymology: From Old French "traison," from Latin "traditio," meaning "a handing over" or "betrayal"
- •Historical development: Originally meant betrayal or handing over someone to enemies; developed into a legal crime for betraying one's country
- •Modern usage: Used today mainly in legal and political contexts for serious crimes against the state or government
Reflect & Connect
•What kinds of actions do you think should be called treason in modern times?
•How do different countries decide what counts as treason, and why might these ideas change over time?
Fill in the blanks
1.The government arrested him for treason because he ___ secret information to a foreign country.
2.Treason is considered one of the most serious crimes because it can ___ national safety.
3.Unlike simple betrayal, treason usually involves helping ___ or trying to harm the government.
4.When someone is charged with treason, they often face ___ punishments.
5.Treason can sometimes be confused with rebellion, but treason usually involves ___ actions rather than open fighting.
6.People who commit treason often try to keep their actions ___ to avoid being caught.
7.Accusing someone of treason means you believe they have ___ their country in a very serious way.