faithful

[feyth-fuhl]

adjective

1. true to one's word, promises, vows, etc.

2. steady in allegiance or affection; loyal; constant.

   faithful friends.

   Synonyms: staunch, devoted, true

3. reliable, trusted, or believed.

4. strict or thorough in the performance of duty.

   a faithful worker.

5. adhering or true to fact, a standard, or an original; accurate.

   a faithful account;

   a faithful copy.

   Synonyms: exact, precise

6. Obsolete.,  full of faith; believing.

noun

1. the faithful,

   1. the believers, especially members of a Christian church or adherents of Islam.

   2. the body of loyal members of any party or group.

faithful

/ ˈfeɪθfʊl /

adjective

1. having faith; remaining true, constant, or loyal

2. maintaining sexual loyalty to one's lover or spouse

3. consistently reliable

   a faithful worker

4. reliable or truthful

   a faithful source

5. accurate in detail

   a faithful translation

noun

1. 1. the believers in and loyal adherents of a religious faith, esp Christianity

   2. any group of loyal and steadfast followers

Other Word Forms

• faithfully adverb
• faithfulness noun
• overfaithful adjective
• pseudofaithful adjective
• quasi-faithful adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of faithful¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; faith, -ful

Synonym Study

Faithful, constant, loyal imply qualities of stability, dependability, and devotion. Faithful implies long-continued and steadfast fidelity to whatever one is bound to by a pledge, duty, or obligation: a faithful friend. Constant suggests firmness and steadfastness in attachment: a constant affection. Loyal implies unswerving allegiance to a person, organization, cause, or idea: loyal to one's associates, one's country.

Example Sentences

Out of Toronto, Times critic Amy Nicholson celebrated the film as “a devilish and dynamic adaptation,” remarking on DaCosta’s changes to Ibsen’s play by saying, “The spirit is faithful; the subtext is fresh.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The episode started with another faithful - singer Charlotte Church - hitting the dust, as she became the Traitors' latest victim.

Read more on BBC

Thankfully, faithful Americans of the past and present offer us some answers.

Read more on Salon

After his banishment, the 27-year-old revealed that he had always been a faithful.

Read more on BBC

The Traitors have begun their murder spree, as the faithfuls endeavour to uncover them.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• affectionate 
• ardent 
• conscientious 
• dependable 
• devoted 
• dutiful 
• hard-core 
• honest 
• honorable 
• loving 
• obedient 
• patriotic 
• resolute 
• scrupulous 
• sincere 
• staunch 
• steadfast 
• true 
• trustworthy 
• trusty