high treason: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Legal
Quick answer
What does “high treason” mean?
The crime of betraying one's own country, especially by attempting to overthrow the government or aiding its enemies in wartime.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The crime of betraying one's own country, especially by attempting to overthrow the government or aiding its enemies in wartime.
In legal contexts, it specifically refers to acts defined by statute as betraying the sovereign or state, such as levying war against the country or adhering to its enemies. More broadly and informally, it can be used metaphorically to describe profound betrayal within an organization or group.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The legal definition is statute-based and differs slightly. In the UK, it's defined by the Treason Act 1351 and subsequent acts (e.g., plotting to kill the sovereign). In the US, it's defined in Article III, Section 3 of the Constitution (levying war against the US or adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort).
Connotations
Both carry extreme gravity. In the UK, it retains strong historical connotations related to the monarchy. In the US, it is foundational, tied to the Revolutionary War and national security.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in everyday language in both variants, but slightly more common in UK historical/political discourse due to its longer legal history.
Grammar
How to Use “high treason” in a Sentence
[Subject] was charged with high treason for [action].[Subject] committed high treason by [gerund phrase].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “high treason” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The court found him guilty of high treason.
- To plot high treason was once a hanging offence.
American English
- He was indicted for high treason.
- The Constitution defines the parameters of high treason.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable; no adverbial form.
American English
- Not applicable; no adverbial form.
adjective
British English
- He faced a high-treason charge.
- The high-trison trial was a media sensation.
American English
- It was a high-treason case of national importance.
- The high-trison statute is rarely invoked.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly metaphorical for extreme corporate betrayal, e.g., 'Sharing the merger plans with a rival was considered high treason.'
Academic
Common in history, political science, and law papers discussing crimes against the state, coups, or historical trials.
Everyday
Very rare. Used hyperbolically for minor betrayals among friends or family as a joke.
Technical
Core usage is in legal contexts, defining a specific capital crime with strict evidential requirements (e.g., the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act in US law).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “high treason”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “high treason”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “high treason”
- Using it interchangeably with 'treason' in formal legal writing where 'high treason' is the precise term.
- Mispronouncing 'treason' as /ˈtriːsɒn/ instead of /ˈtriːz(ə)n/.
- Using it in an informal context without clear ironic intent, which can sound melodramatic.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In modern usage, they are often synonymous. Historically, 'high treason' was the betrayal of the sovereign or state, while 'petty treason' was betrayal of a social superior (e.g., a servant killing a master). Today, 'high treason' emphasizes the supreme seriousness of the crime.
Yes. The legal concept adapts. In a democracy, it typically involves acts like levying war against the state, attempting to overthrow the government by force, or giving aid and comfort to enemies during wartime, as defined by that nation's laws.
It depends on the country. In some nations, like the UK, the death penalty for high treason was abolished for peacetime in 1998. In others, it may remain a capital crime on the statute books but is rarely, if ever, applied.
It's used hyperbolically to describe an act perceived as an ultimate betrayal within a group, organisation, or even a family (e.g., 'Switching to a rival football team was seen as high treason by his friends.'). This use is intentionally dramatic and not literal.
The crime of betraying one's own country, especially by attempting to overthrow the government or aiding its enemies in wartime.
High treason is usually formal, legal in register.
High treason: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhaɪ ˈtriːz(ə)n/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhaɪ ˈtriːz(ə)n/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly; the term itself is often used as a component in metaphorical expressions, e.g., 'It was high treason to suggest changing the recipe.'”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a spy on a HIGH cliff, selling the country's secrets—a HIGH-stakes beTRAYal (TREAson) against the nation.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE STATE IS A BODY (the body politic). High treason is a mortal wound or poison inflicted on that body by one of its own parts.
Practice
Quiz
What is a key constitutional requirement for a conviction of high treason in the United States?