disloyalty

[ dis-loi-uhl-tee ]

noun

, plural dis·loy·al·ties.

1. the quality of being disloyal; lack of loyalty; unfaithfulness.

   Synonyms: subversion

2. violation of allegiance or duty, as to a government.
3. a disloyal act.

disloyalty

/ dɪsˈlɔɪəltɪ /

noun

1. the condition or an instance of being unfaithful or disloyal

Word History and Origins

Origin of disloyalty¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Middle French desloiaute, Old French desleaute, equivalent to desleal disloyal + -te -ty ²

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

Once again, the rabbis were publicly accused of disloyalty to Israel.

From Time

So does his comment about treason, which plugs into the mentality of those accusing the President of sedition and disloyalty.

From The Daily Beast

Another act, however, may be considered immoral not because it is harmful but because it evinces disloyalty.

From The Daily Beast

A hothead who believes life itself has betrayed him is liable to take even minor perceived disloyalty as treason.

From The Daily Beast

There is no quicker career-killer than whispers of “disloyalty” to the partisan cause.

From The Daily Beast

The disloyalty meme is, I'd expect, going to get louder.They're popping neck veins already and it's only July.

From The Daily Beast

But while de Brus took nothing by his loyalty to Edward, he suffered for his disloyalty to Balliol.

From Project Gutenberg

It was as if she were trying, passionately, to make up for some brief disloyalty, some lapse of tenderness.

From Project Gutenberg

Her very resistance seemed disloyalty to him, as though another shared her with him and strove against him.

From Project Gutenberg

And it was against their disloyalty and intolerance that the five conditions of the King's pardon were chiefly directed.

From Project Gutenberg

Still in the midst of this growing disloyalty the King was always spoken of with affection and respect.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• breach of trust
• infidelity
• sedition
• treachery
• treason