loyal

[ loi-uhl ]

adjective

1. faithful to one's sovereign, government, or state:

   a loyal subject.

   Synonyms: patriotic

   Antonyms: treacherous, faithless, disloyal, treasonous, traitorous

2. faithful to one's oath, commitments, or obligations:

   to be loyal to a vow.

   Synonyms: true, steadfast, staunch, devoted, constant

3. faithful to any leader, party, or cause, or to any person or thing conceived as deserving fidelity:

   a loyal friend.

4. characterized by or showing faithfulness to commitments, vows, allegiance, obligations, etc.:

   loyal conduct.

loyal

/ ˈlɔɪəl /

adjective

1. having or showing continuing allegiance
2. faithful to one's country, government, etc
3. of or expressing loyalty

Derived Forms

• ˈloyally, adverb
• ˈloyalness, noun

Other Words From

• loyal·ly adverb
• loyal·ness noun
• non·loyal adjective
• non·loyal·ly adverb
• over·loyal adjective
• over·loyal·ly adverb
• quasi-loyal adjective
• quasi-loyal·ly adverb
• super·loyal adjective
• super·loyal·ly adverb
• un·loyal adjective
• un·loyal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of loyal¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Middle French, Old French loial, lei(a)l, from Latin lēgālis legal

Word History and Origins

Origin of loyal¹

C16: from Old French loial, leial, from Latin lēgālis legal

Synonym Study

See faithful.

Example Sentences

The creation of such a panel, if it came to fruition, would facilitate the purging of military leaders who were unwilling to carry out presidential orders — or those relayed by a loyal subordinate.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s also a test, intentional or not: Just how loyal is the rest of the GOP?

From Salon

What followed, she alleges, was months of retaliation by McMillion and those loyal to him.

From Los Angeles Times

President-elect Donald Trump’s pick of Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general sent a clear signal through Washington on Wednesday that Trump intends for his Justice Department to take a sharp-elbowed, hyper-partisan approach to law and order — one that is both unquestioningly loyal to Trump and openly antagonistic toward his political opponents, legal and political experts said.

From Los Angeles Times

Trump has repeatedly expressed regret about not appointing people more loyal to him as attorney general during his first term, which was defined in part by the Justice Department’s investigation into the 2016 Trump campaign’s ties to Russia.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ardent
• devoted
• dutiful
• patriotic
• staunch
• steadfast
• true
• trustworthy