infidelity

[in-fi-del-i-tee]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR infidelity ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural in·fi·del·i·ties.

marital disloyalty; adultery.

unfaithfulness; disloyalty.

lack of religious faith, especially Christian faith.

a breach of trust or a disloyal act; transgression.

Origin of infidelity

1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin infidēlitās, equivalent to infidēli(s) unfaithful (see infidel) + -tās -ty²

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for infidelity

treachery, affair, betrayal, duplicity, adultery, cheating, falseness, falsity, unfaithfulness, perfidy, perfidiousness, treason, lewdness, inconstancy, two-timing

Examples from the Web for infidelity

Contemporary Examples of infidelity

Amid accusations of infidelity, she told reporters in 1988 that she and the former priest were just fine.
Adiós to the Diva Duchess
Barbie Latza Nadeau
November 20, 2014
Was it difficult revisiting any of the darker memories, like his infidelity?
All Eyes on Anjelica Huston: The Legendary Actress on Love, Abuse, and Jack Nicholson
Alex Suskind
November 10, 2014
The public conversation about infidelity has undoubtedly become more nuanced.
Why You’re Happily Married and Having an Affair
Ryan Selzer
November 2, 2014
They succumbed to infidelity, remained materialistic, and acted selfishly.
The Gospel According to Thomas Jefferson (And Tolstoy and Dickens)
Samuel Fragoso
October 26, 2014
Lets rap about new feminism, hip-hop and infidelity," she begins, "You got a good girl / Why she messing with a bad guy?
Elevator Music Beyoncé Doesn’t Want to Hear: Jay Z’s ‘Mistress’ Drops ‘Sorry Mrs. Carter’
Amy Zimmerman
August 8, 2014

Historical Examples of infidelity

This is the affirmation of the liberty claimed by infidelity.
Slavery Ordained of God
Rev. Fred A. Ross, D.D.
So far the position of the wife is secured in the case of the infidelity of the husband.
The Truth About Woman
C. Gasquoine Hartley
But infidelity and bigotry are frequently next-door neighbours.
Memoirs of the Court of St. Cloud, Complete
Lewis Goldsmith
The infidelity of his wife did not trouble him in the least.
Therese Raquin
Emile Zola
Curiosity is the mother of all infidelity, whether of the spirit or of the body.
The Golden Fountain
Lilian Staveley

British Dictionary definitions for infidelity

infidelity

noun plural -ties

lack of faith or constancy, esp sexual faithfulness

lack of religious faith; disbelief

an act or instance of disloyalty

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for infidelity

c.1400, "want of faith, unbelief in religion; false belief, paganism;" also (early 15c.) "unfaithfulness or disloyalty to a person" (originally to a sovereign, by 16c. to a lover or spouse), from French infidélité, from Latin infidelitatem (nominative infidelitas) "unfaithfulness, faithlessness," noun of quality from infidelis (see infidel).