loyalty
Americannoun
-
loyalties
plural
noun
-
the state or quality of being loyal
-
(often plural) a feeling of allegiance
Synonym Usage
Loyalty, allegiance, fidelity all imply a sense of duty or of devoted attachment to something or someone. Loyalty connotes sentiment and the feeling of devotion that one holds for one's country, creed, family, friends, etc. Allegiance applies particularly to a citizen's duty to their country, or, by extension, one's obligation to support a party, cause, leader, etc. Fidelity implies unwavering devotion and allegiance to a person, principle, etc
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of loyalty
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English loialte, from Middle French. See loyal, -ty 2
Explanation
A person who feels loyalty to a nation, cause, or person feels a sense of allegiance, commitment, dedication toward them. Loyalty is — you guessed it! — the quality of being loyal. People demonstrate their loyalty to a sports team by cheering for it, win or lose. People demonstrate their loyalty to a political party by voting only for the people of that party. Brand loyalty is the notion (or hope) that once consumers identify strongly with a particular brand or product, like a car or computer, they'll stick with that brand or maker when it comes time to buy new products.
Vocabulary lists containing loyalty
American Naturalization Test, List 2
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Allegiant
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Medieval Christendom, Lessons 3–5
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
With an eye toward sustainability seen as key for brand loyalty, Mejuri also changed how it sources supplies in a market often associated with worker and environmental abuse.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2026
Doing so can strengthen customer loyalty, she said, but “it’s a good practice to let people know up front.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026
Multi-buy offers, including extra loyalty points, are also banned.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
Marketers that can’t get certain items from shelves to homes on shoppers’ accelerated timeline might not get them off the shelf at all—and could lose consumer loyalty in the process.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
Her loyalty, she said, had been to Harold Washington’s principles more than to the man himself.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
By tapping into frustration with the state’s education system, Hinojosa said, she has been able to attract voters in a state where political loyalties run deep.
From Salon ● Oct. 1, 2026
“There has been speculation about my politics, my loyalties, my intentions,” Ellison wrote.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026
"The issue is whether I can be trusted as a steward of Warner's CNN. There has been speculation about my politics, my loyalties, my intentions," he wrote.
From Barron's ● Aug. 4, 2026
To find out if I was alone, I travelled across the capital meeting people whose loyalties are shaped by more than one country.
From BBC ● Jul. 5, 2026
She has plenty of friends at Truman, but her interests, relationships, and loyalties are mainly outside the school.
From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove
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.
