loyalty

[ loi-uhl-tee ]

noun

, plural loy·al·ties.

1. the state or quality of being loyal; faithfulness to commitments or obligations.
2. faithful adherence to a sovereign, government, leader, cause, etc.

   Synonyms: constancy, devotion, fealty

3. an example or instance of faithfulness, adherence, or the like:

   a man with fierce loyalties.

loyalty

/ ˈlɔɪəltɪ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being loyal
2. often plural a feeling of allegiance

Other Words From

• non·loyal·ty noun plural nonloyalties
• over·loyal·ty noun plural overloyalties
• un·loyal·ty noun plural unloyalties

Word History and Origins

Origin of loyalty¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English loialte, from Middle French. See loyal, -ty ²

Synonym Study

Loyalty, allegiance, fidelity all imply a sense of duty or of devoted attachment to something or someone. Loyalty connotes sentiment and the feeling of devotion that one holds for one's country, creed, family, friends, etc. Allegiance applies particularly to a citizen's duty to their country, or, by extension, one's obligation to support a party, cause, leader, etc. Fidelity implies unwavering devotion and allegiance to a person, principle, etc

Example Sentences

She cited Allen as the “director who really changed my life with his loyalty and his support.”

From Los Angeles Times

Pointing to Trump’s two impeachments, Kagan suggests that “party loyalty has superseded branch loyalty, and never more so than in the Trump era.”

From Salon

Trump’s selections for his Cabinet are distinguished both by their personal loyalty to him as well as ferocity in pursuing his personal and political “enemies.”

From Salon

Then there are obstacles of the self-imposed variety, including Trump’s choice to head the EPA: former Rep. Lee Zeldin of New York, whose main qualification seems to be loyalty.

From Los Angeles Times

While neither side has directly threatened the residents of Rmeish during the conflict, they have had their loyalty to Lebanon questioned.

From BBC

Related Words

• adherence
• allegiance
• devotion
• faith
• fealty
• fidelity
• honesty
• honor
• integrity
• obedience
• patriotism
• reliability
• sincerity
• support
• tie
• trustworthiness