The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word TRAITOR
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
T
R
A
I
T
O
R
More clues leading to the result TRAITOR
- One might betray characteristic worry, oddly overlooked
- Quality gold for betrayer
- Turncoat's characteristic: wanting gold
- Characteristic feature or mole
- Mark by yellow snake in the grass
- Characteristic yellow rat
- Form of rat, I, corrupt, switching sides?
- Rat! Riot! Rat! Riot!
- He betrays a propensity for going topless
- Renegade or rat — that captures it
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "rat" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case rat = traitor.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does TRAITOR mean?
TRAITOR noun- Someone who violates an allegiance and betrays their country; someone guilty of treason; one who, in breach of trust, delivers their country to an enemy, or yields up any fort or place entrusted to his defense, or surrenders an army or body of troops to the enemy, unless when vanquished
- Someone who takes arms and levies war against their country; or one who aids an enemy in conquering his country.
- Hence, one who betrays any confidence or trust.
- To act the traitor toward; to betray; to deceive.
- Traitorous