Treachery is the act of betrayingacting in a way that harms or deceives a person who trusted you someone or breaking a trust in a dishonest, disloyalnot faithful or committed to a person, group, or cause way. It is a strong word used for serious wrongdoingbehavior that is morally or legally wrong, especially when someone turns against a person, group, or cause that relied on them.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-28. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈtrɛtʃəri/
Easy pronunciation: TRECH-uh-ree (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress is on the first syllable.
Noun meaning an act of deliberate betrayal.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-28. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Treachery Meaning
the act of being disloyal and betraying someone
Part of speech: noun
Definition: an act of deliberate betrayal
Example: They felt the leader’s sudden deal with the enemy was an act of treachery.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- betrayal — Direct synonym for deliberate disloyalty or betrayal.
- perfidy — A formal word meaning betrayal or disloyal conduct.
- treason — Works when the betrayal is against a country or ruler, but is narrower than treachery overall.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-28. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Treachery
Meaning 2
breaking a promise or trust in a disloyal way
Part of speech: noun
Definition: betrayal of a trust
Example: Sharing the secret was a clear treachery to their friendship.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- perfidiousness — Means untrustworthiness or betrayal in a formal style.
- perfidy — Also works for the quality of being deceitful and untrustworthy.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-28. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Treachery Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- betrayal
- perfidy
betrayal of a trust
- perfidiousness
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-28. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People sometimes confuse treachery with simple dishonesty, but it usually means a serious act of betrayal.
- It can also be used more specifically for political or national betrayal, where treason may be the closer word.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-28. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does treachery mean?
Treachery means deliberate betrayal or disloyal behavior that breaks a trust.
Is treachery the same as betrayal?
Very close, yes. Betrayal is the more common everyday word, while treachery sounds stronger and more formal.
Can treachery mean treason?
Sometimes, especially when the betrayal is against a country or ruler. But treachery is broader than treason.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-28. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
