traitress: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 (Very Low Frequency / Archaic)Literary, Formal, Archaic, Potentially Offensive (gender-specific).
Quick answer
What does “traitress” mean?
A woman who betrays her country, a cause, or a person.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A woman who betrays her country, a cause, or a person.
Used to denote a female traitor, especially one who commits treachery, breaks faith, or violates allegiance, often with a focus on personal or emotional betrayal.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning; equally archaic and rare in both dialects.
Connotations
In both, it evokes historical or literary contexts (e.g., Shakespeare, 19th-century novels). Using it today can seem oddly dated or deliberately theatrical.
Frequency
Extremely rare in modern usage. Slightly more likely to be encountered in British historical texts or period dramas.
Grammar
How to Use “traitress” in a Sentence
Traitress + to + [country/cause/person] (e.g., a traitress to the crown)Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Only in historical or gender studies discussing archaic terminology.
Everyday
Not used in modern everyday conversation.
Technical
Not applicable.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “traitress”
- Using it in modern contexts where 'traitor' is appropriate. Spelling: 'traitress' not 'traytress' or 'traitres'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is considered archaic and literary. The gender-neutral term 'traitor' is used for all people today.
Historically, English had many gendered noun pairs (actor/actress, waiter/waitress). This is a relic of that pattern, which has largely fallen out of favour for professions and roles.
It could be seen as offensive or patronising due to its archaic, gender-specific nature. More importantly, it would sound strange and overly dramatic in most contexts.
The male equivalent is simply 'traitor'. 'Traitor' is also the default, gender-neutral term.
A woman who betrays her country, a cause, or a person.
Traitress is usually literary, formal, archaic, potentially offensive (gender-specific). in register.
Traitress: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtreɪ.trəs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtreɪ.trəs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A traitress in their midst.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Traitress = TRAIT (characteristic) + -RESS (female suffix). Think: 'Her defining TRAIT was being a betray-ESS.'
Conceptual Metaphor
BETRAYAL IS A DISEASE / POISON (e.g., 'the traitress poisoned the court against the king').
Practice
Quiz
Which statement about the word 'traitress' is most accurate?