disloyal

[ dis-loi-uhl ]

adjective

1. false to one's obligations or allegiances; not loyal; faithless; treacherous.

   Synonyms: treasonable, traitorous, perfidious, unfaithful

disloyal

/ dɪsˈlɔɪəl /

adjective

1. not loyal or faithful; deserting one's allegiance or duty

Derived Forms

• disˈloyally, adverb

Other Words From

• dis·loyal·ist noun
• dis·loyal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of disloyal¹

1470–80; < Middle French desloial, Old French desleal, equivalent to des- dis- ¹ + leal loyal

Example Sentences

Yet it also sent those branded as disloyal to harsher conditions at the Tule Lake camp in California.

From Time

He felt Scull was disloyal — no longer a collector, but a profiteer.

From Freakonomics

During World War I, a New York State law banned public schools from using textbooks containing material “disloyal to the United States.”

From Time

We have been shocked by this corrupt system, where the most disloyal and inappropriate behavior is being repeated.

From Ozy

Mader even told the Swiss paper that he purposefully did not promote gay Swiss Guards out of fear that they would be disloyal.

From The Daily Beast

At the same time, the “Ted Cruz Republicans,” as King called them, had been consistently disloyal.

From The Daily Beast

Disobedient businessmen, disloyal functionaries, and opposition activists—these are the “criminals” the Kremlin wishes to pursue.

From The Daily Beast

In other words, imagine being disloyal in a way that was not detectable by the people you were betraying.

From The Daily Beast

His critics have seized on this interview to say Hagel harbors anti-Semitic notions about Jews being disloyal or foreign agents.

From The Daily Beast

Desmond would not willingly confess himself disloyal, yet it is plain that he liked Queen Elizabeth best at a distance.

From Project Gutenberg

The complainants had unwisely mixed the charge of disloyal speeches, etc., with Church innovations.

From Project Gutenberg

The Nationalists have left no stone unturned in their efforts to prove that the northern Protestants are disloyal.

From Project Gutenberg

I came up to a house yesterday where the Dutch farmer, who was known to be disloyal, had just been arrested and taken away.

From Project Gutenberg

Mrs. Brookenham had repeatedly asked herself where in the world she might have found the money to be disloyal.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• disaffected
• untrustworthy