loyalist

[ loi-uh-list ]
See synonyms for: loyalistloyalists on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. a person who is loyal; a supporter of the sovereign or of the existing government, especially in time of revolt.

  2. (sometimes initial capital letter) a person who remained loyal to the British during the American Revolution; Tory.

  1. (initial capital letter) an adherent of the republic during the Spanish Civil War, opposed to Franco.

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Origin of loyalist

1
First recorded in 1640–50; loyal + -ist

Other words from loyalist

  • loy·al·ism, noun

Words Nearby loyalist

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use loyalist in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for loyalist (1 of 2)

loyalist

/ (ˈlɔɪəlɪst) /


noun
  1. a patriotic supporter of his sovereign or government

Derived forms of loyalist

  • loyalism, noun

British Dictionary definitions for Loyalist (2 of 2)

Loyalist

/ (ˈlɔɪəlɪst) /


noun
  1. (in Northern Ireland) any of the Protestants wishing to retain Ulster's link with Britain

  2. (in North America) an American colonist who supported Britain during the War of American Independence

  1. (in Canada) short for United Empire Loyalist

  2. (during the Spanish Civil War) a supporter of the republican government

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