a person who is loyal; a supporter of the sovereign or of the existing government, especially in time of revolt.
(sometimes initial capital letter) a person who remained loyal to the British during the American Revolution; Tory.
(initial capital letter) an adherent of the republic during the Spanish Civil War, opposed to Franco.
(in Northern Ireland) any of the Protestants wishing to retain Ulster's link with Britain
(in North America) an American colonist who supported Britain during the War of American Independence
(in Canada) short for United Empire Loyalist
(during the Spanish Civil War) a supporter of the republican government
How does loyalist compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
In politics, a loyalist is someone who stays faithful to a party or government even during times of upheaval and revolt. During America's colonial era, loyalists supported British rule. Today in the U.K., someone who's described as a loyalist is typically a supporter of political union between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. This term is often used during times of upheaval in various countries, to talk about those who remain loyal to an established government. It's been used this way since at least the 17th century — but if your favorite childhood movie gets a terrible remake, feel free to say you're a loyalist to the original version.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“When is the robe and hood coming out?” one loyalist wrote.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 19, 2026
Kiki Monique considers herself a Delta Air Lines loyalist after flying with the carrier for more than a decade.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026
Min Aung Hlaing is expected to manage a carefully orchestrated transition to becoming president, after he handed over the reins of the military to loyalist Ye Win Oo on Monday.
From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026
The reason for the appointment was that Khamenei was a longtime loyalist and regime insider, even though he lacked the charismatic and religious authority of Khomeini.
From Salon • Mar. 6, 2026
To be a Swann loyalist, as Lawrence was, meant being prepared to pack one’s academic bags on short notice.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
