What is the Latin word for deserter?

The usual Latin words for “deserter” are dēsertor, trānsfuga, perfuga. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“deserter” in Latin

dēsertora deserter, one who abandons trānsfugaa deserter perfugadeserter

The English word deserter itself goes back to Latin serō, through desertor.

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

deserter

desertor (one who deserts the colors of his army, or general; Caes., Liv.): transfuga; perfuga (one who goes over to the opposite party, perfuga as a delinquent, who betrays his party; transfuga as a waverer, who changes and forsakes his party; Döderlein).

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for deserter?: The usual Latin words for “deserter” are dēsertor, trānsfuga, perfuga. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.