fidelity

[ fi-del-i-tee, fahy- ]

noun

, plural fi·del·i·ties.

1. strict observance of promises, duties, etc.:

   a servant's fidelity.

2. loyalty:

   fidelity to one's country.

   Antonyms: disloyalty

3. conjugal faithfulness.
4. adherence to fact or detail.
5. accuracy; exactness:

   The speech was transcribed with great fidelity.

   Synonyms: rigor, faithfulness, precision

6. Audio, Video. the degree of accuracy with which sound or images are recorded or reproduced.

fidelity

/ fɪˈdɛlɪtɪ /

noun

1. devotion to duties, obligations, etc; faithfulness
2. loyalty or devotion, as to a person or cause
3. faithfulness to one's spouse, lover, etc
4. adherence to truth; accuracy in reporting detail
5. electronics the degree to which the output of a system, such as an amplifier or radio, accurately reproduces the characteristics of the input signal See also high fidelity

Other Words From

• nonfi·deli·ty noun
• unfi·deli·ty noun plural unfidelities

Word History and Origins

Origin of fidelity¹

First recorded in 1500–10; late Middle English fidelite (from Middle French ), from Latin fidēlitās, equivalent to fidēli- (stem of fidēlis “loyal,” equivalent to fidē(s) faith + -lis adjective suffix) + -tās -ty ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of fidelity¹

C15: from Latin fidēlitās , from fidēlis faithful, from fidēs faith, loyalty

Synonym Study

See loyalty.

Example Sentences

But probably because we co-edited the Deadline Artists anthologies with our friend Jesse Angelo, we feel a fidelity to the form.

From The Daily Beast

If the noble experiment of American democracy is to mean anything, it is fidelity to the principle of freedom.

From The Daily Beast

The doctrines, which drew on the likes of Wilhelm Reich, replaced absolute fidelity with ordained promiscuity.

From The Daily Beast

In contrast to past beliefs, repetition may reduce the fidelity of memory representations.

From The Daily Beast

The Cardinals were also required to swear an oath of fidelity to “Blessed Peter in the person of the Supreme Pontiff.”

From The Daily Beast

All bribery, and injustice shall be blotted out, and fidelity shall stand for ever.

From Project Gutenberg

It makes one believe that fundamentally the country must be sound—that unswerving fidelity to an ideal.

From Project Gutenberg

Its resolution will be put into practice with all fidelity by the executive power in its character of responsible government.

From Project Gutenberg

His duties as Pipe-master, Hennemann discharged with great fidelity; yea, even with genuine fanatical zeal.

From Project Gutenberg

The foresters of Selkirk, as we have seen, had stood by Edward, and apparently had suffered not a little for their fidelity.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• faithfulness
• loyalty