faithfulness

American  

[feyth-fuhl-nis] / ˈfeɪθ fəl nɪs /

noun

1. lasting loyalty and trustworthiness in relationships, especially marriage and friendship.

   A wedding ring is a symbol of unending love and faithfulness to each other.

   I remember the faithfulness of so many friends and family who sent me emails, visited me, and stood with me during my ordeal.

2. the fact or quality of being true to one’s word or commitments, as to what one has pledged to do, professes to believe, etc..

   In the Bible, the psalmist David reports God's faithfulness in keeping promises.

3. the fact or quality of being dedicated and steadfast in performing one’s duty, working for a cause, etc..

   We lawyers have an ethical obligation to represent our clients with diligence, faithfulness, and competence.

4. the quality of adhering to fact, a standard, or an original; accuracy.

   Professional translators often focus on the faithfulness of a translation to the original, with too little attention to the naturalness or comprehensibility of the translated version.

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Other Word Forms

• overfaithfulness noun

Etymology

Origin of faithfulness

faithful ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

Explanation

Faithfulness is commitment to someone or something. Faithfulness is especially valued in spouses and in sports fans. When a married person is faithful, they stand by their spouse and don't cheat. Faithfulness refers to this quality of being faithful and loyal. A patriotic person is full of faithfulness to their country. Someone who works at one company for decades has faithfulness to that company. People can have faithfulness to ideas too, including religious, political, and artistic ideas.

Example Sentences

Because real leadership isn’t measured by proximity to power, but by faithfulness to truth.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 22, 2026

Their monogamy has also attracted the unwelcome attention of local traditional healers, who claim that the parts of crested crane may bring faithfulness from a partner - or good luck.

From BBC • Feb. 15, 2025

Samuel Beckett, a stickler for faithfulness, didn’t share this laissez-faire attitude toward his stage directions, which he expected to be punctiliously observed by others.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 7, 2025

Christ is reputed to have said: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

From Salon • Apr. 2, 2024

Then they vowed kemmering to each other, and in Kerm Land then as now that vow of faithfulness is not to be broken, not to be replaced.

From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin

Related Words

• adherence
• allegiance
• fealty
• fidelity