loyal

[loi-uhl]

adjective

1. faithful to one's sovereign, government, or state.

   a loyal subject.

   Synonyms: patriotic
   Antonyms: treacherous, faithless, disloyal, treasonous, traitorous

2. faithful to one's oath, commitments, or obligations.

   to be loyal to a vow.

   Synonyms: true, steadfast, staunch, devoted, constant

3. faithful to any leader, party, or cause, or to any person or thing conceived as deserving fidelity.

   a loyal friend.

4. characterized by or showing faithfulness to commitments, vows, allegiance, obligations, etc..

   loyal conduct.

loyal

/ ˈlɔɪəl /

adjective

1. having or showing continuing allegiance

2. faithful to one's country, government, etc

3. of or expressing loyalty

Other Word Forms

• loyally adverb
• loyalness noun
• nonloyal adjective
• nonloyally adverb
• overloyal adjective
• overloyally adverb
• quasi-loyal adjective
• quasi-loyally adverb
• superloyal adjective
• superloyally adverb
• unloyal adjective
• unloyally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of loyal¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Middle French, Old French loial, lei(a)l, from Latin lēgālis legal

Word History and Origins

Origin of loyal¹

C16: from Old French loial, leial, from Latin lēgālis _legal

Synonym Study

See faithful.

Example Sentences

Perpetually in the Belchers’ orbit is Teddy — handyman, loyal customer and Bob’s best friend.

From Los Angeles Times

A loyal government supporter, he says he is "ready to serve whenever they call me".

From BBC

Sir Keir said she had been "a loyal and valued member" of his team for almost five years.

From BBC

In the trailer, the titular Bride is the unknowing product of Frank and the doctor’s dark scheme, alternating between loyal naivete to her companion and a lingering curiosity about where she comes from.

From Los Angeles Times

Ms Juc's social media profile says she is from Transnistria, a separatist region of eastern Moldova loyal to Moscow, and her Instagram shows she has made multiple trips to Russia over the past few years.

From BBC

Related Words

• ardent 
• devoted 
• dutiful 
• patriotic 
• staunch 
• steadfast 
• true 
• trustworthy