disloyalty
Americannoun
plural
disloyalties-
the quality of being disloyal; lack of loyalty; unfaithfulness.
- Synonyms:
- subversion
-
violation of allegiance or duty, as to a government.
-
a disloyal act.
noun
Related Words
Disloyalty, perfidy, treachery, treason imply betrayal of trust. Disloyalty applies to any violation of loyalty, whether to a person, a cause, or one's country, and whether in thought or in deeds: to suspect disloyalty in a friend. Perfidy implies deliberate breaking of faith or of one's pledges and promises, on which others are relying: It is an act of perfidy to cheat innocent people. Treachery implies being secretly traitorous but seeming friendly and loyal: In treachery deceit is added to disloyalty. Treason is performing overt acts to help the enemies of one's country or government: Acting to aid a hostile power is treason.
Etymology
Origin of disloyalty
1400–50; late Middle English < Middle French desloiaute, Old French desleaute, equivalent to desleal disloyal + -te -ty 2
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That isn’t naivety or disloyalty to any American vision of a new world order.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026
It is also possible that some voters will dislike any whiff of disloyalty and division and express themselves accordingly.
From BBC • Feb. 13, 2026
"It's too bad, sort of disloyalty," Trump said.
From Barron's • Jan. 29, 2026
Viewers may be surprised to learn just how daring and successful a Patriot military leader Arnold was before his decision to switch sides made his name synonymous with disloyalty.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 12, 2025
Richard wanted to say something about her disloyalty to her friend and then realized how hypocritical it would sound, even if only to himself.
From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
