loyalist

[ loi-uh-list ]

noun

1. a person who is loyal; a supporter of the sovereign or of the existing government, especially in time of revolt.
2. (sometimes initial capital letter) a person who remained loyal to the British during the American Revolution; Tory.
3. (initial capital letter) an adherent of the republic during the Spanish Civil War, opposed to Franco.

Loyalist

¹

/ ˈlɔɪəlɪst /

noun

1. (in Northern Ireland) any of the Protestants wishing to retain Ulster's link with Britain
2. (in North America) an American colonist who supported Britain during the War of American Independence
3. (in Canada) short for United Empire Loyalist
4. (during the Spanish Civil War) a supporter of the republican government

loyalist

²

/ ˈlɔɪəlɪst /

noun

1. a patriotic supporter of his sovereign or government

Derived Forms

• ˈloyalism, noun

Other Words From

• loyal·ism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of loyalist¹

First recorded in 1640–50; loyal + -ist

Example Sentences

And if he gets his way on selections for some of the most important posts in government, he would put in place loyalists intent on blowing up the very departments they would lead.

From Salon

After wasting no time in naming a number of right-wing loyalists to his cabinet, President-elect Donald Trump is still debating who will be his Treasury Secretary, The New York Times reported Sunday.

From Salon

Last week, reports surfaced that Trump is considering Patel to lead the FBI, sticking to his longtime pledge to fire current FBI Director Christopher Wray and replace him with a loyalist.

From Salon

The FCC commissioner is the author of the FCC chapter of Project 2025, a right-wing agenda published by the Heritage Foundation that promotes dismantling federal agencies and replacing the federal workforce with Trump loyalists.

From Salon

Finally, the Social Security program is threatened by Trump’s promise to fire thousands of federal employees and replace them with political loyalists, who may or may not be best qualified to competently perform their duties.

From Salon

Related Words

• follower