noun
- a person who collaborates with an enemy occupying their country; a traitor
Usage: often capitalized; historical
Examples
- The resistance fighters despised the local quislings who helped the occupying army.
- He was branded a quisling for providing information to enemy forces.
- The term comes from Vidkun Quisling, who collaborated with Nazi Germany during World War II.
- Many quislings faced severe punishment after the war ended.
- The villagers shunned anyone suspected of being a quisling.
- History books describe the various quislings who betrayed their own people.