Meanings
plural Benedict Arnolds
- USA traitor.
I am no longer an American; I am a traitor, a Judas, a Benedict Arnold.
2008, Nick De La Pena, The Contagion, page 2993 more examples
A Negro hotelkeeper in a free city of the North views with disdain a Benedict Arnold in the colored camp who crosses the lines to a "white" hotel.
1945, William Worthy, Jr., “Non-Fraternization: American Style”, in The Crisis, volume 52, number 11, page 323Within a group, Benedict Arnolds attempt to prevent the group from accomplishing its goals
2009, Charles Zastrow, The Practice of Social Work: A Comprehensive Worktext, page 204What if we are already under investigation from someone covertly talking with the cops? What if there is a Benedict Arnold in the group?
2012, Nicholas Campanella, Traglamoor's JourneySynonyms: quisling
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA traitor.
Origin
From Benedict Arnold, famous for betraying the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
Benedict Arnold. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Benedict%20Arnold
“Benedict Arnold.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Benedict%20Arnold. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Benedict Arnold,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Benedict%20Arnold.
Source: Benedict Arnold on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.