Editing Defection (section)

{{Short description|Giving up of allegiance to one state for allegiance to another}}
{{redirect|Defector}}
{{distinguish|Defecation|
Defection (song)}}
[[File:Russische jager in Zweden (gevluchte piloot), Bestanddeelnr 903-3907.jpg|thumb|right|A Soviet [[Lavochkin La-7]] fighter aircraft, that crash-landed in Sweden after being flown there by a defecting pilot, May 1949]]
In [[politics]], a '''defector''' is a person who gives up [[allegiance]] to one state in exchange for allegiance to another, changing sides in a way which is considered illegitimate by the first state.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defector|title=Definition of DEFECTOR|website=www.merriam-webster.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226091416/http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defector|archive-date=2015-02-26}}</ref> More broadly, '''defection''' involves abandoning a person, cause, or doctrine to which one is bound by some tie, as of allegiance or duty.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/defection |title=Defection &#124; Define Defection at Dictionary.com |access-date=2011-03-22 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110403075045/http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/defection |archive-date=2011-04-03 }} "de·fec·tion [dih-fek-shuhn] ''noun'' (1.) desertion from allegiance, loyalty, duty, or the like; apostasy: His defection to East Germany was regarded as treasonable. (2.) failure; lack; loss: He was overcome by a sudden defection of courage." Retrieved 22MARCH2011.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/defector |title=Defector &#124; Define Defector at Dictionary.com |access-date=2011-03-22 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110405044706/http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/defector |archive-date=2011-04-05 }} "de·fec·tor [dih-fek-ter] ''–noun'' a person who defects from a cause, country, alliance, etc. Origin: 1655–65; < Latin dēfector renegade, rebel, equivalent to dēfec- (variant stem of dēficere to become disaffected, revolt, literally, to fail; see defect) + -tor -tor" Retrieved 22MARCH2011.</ref>

This term is also applied, often pejoratively, to anyone who switches loyalty to another [[Religious disaffiliation|religion]], [[sports team]], [[political party]], or other rival faction. In that sense, the defector is often considered a [[traitor]] by their original side.<ref>{{Citation |title=defector |url=https://www.thefreedictionary.com/defector |work=The Free Dictionary |access-date=2023-01-18 |archive-date=2019-08-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827124351/https://www.thefreedictionary.com/defector |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=defector "''defector'' 1660s, agent noun in Latin form from defect, or else from L. defector "revolter," agent noun from deficere (see deficient)." Retrieved 22MARCH2011.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728085323/http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=defector |date=2011-07-28 }}</ref>