- the act of exposing or delivering someone to an enemy through treachery or disloyalty:This security leak was an inexcusable betrayal of an ally whose very existence is now threatened.
- the act of disappointing a person’s trust, hopes, or expectations:Imagine what a betrayal it is each time a rape victim finds out that her fellow citizens, and our legal system, are just not there for her.
- the act of revealing information in violation of confidence:The library, which carried books criticizing the regime, was kept in private homes and frequently had to be moved to avoid betrayal of its secret to the local authorities.
- failure to keep or honor a promise, principle, cherished memory, etc.:Many of his constituents are unhappy with his promotion of new mining and logging initiatives, seeing it as a betrayal of his green ideals.
- an act or instance of unconsciously revealing or displaying some quality or characteristic, typically one preferably concealed:A slight tremor in her hand was the only betrayal of her fear.
