loyalty

[loi-uhl-tee]

noun

plural

loyalties 

1. the state or quality of being loyal; faithfulness to commitments or obligations.

2. faithful adherence to a sovereign, government, leader, cause, etc.

   Synonyms: constancy, devotion, fealty

3. an example or instance of faithfulness, adherence, or the like.

   a man with fierce loyalties.

loyalty

/ ˈlɔɪəltɪ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being loyal

2. (often plural) a feeling of allegiance

Other Word Forms

• nonloyalty noun
• overloyalty noun
• unloyalty noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of loyalty¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English loialte, from Middle French. See loyal, -ty ²

Synonym Study

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

Example Sentences

He presented a world where men take a branding iron to the chest to show loyalty to the Yellowstone ranch and each other.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

They no longer have any interest in or loyalty to the conservative movement he helped create.

Read more on Salon

She explained how her loyalties to Biden may have cost her votes, and called out the Washington Post and the L.A.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The trends toward international travel, loyalty cards and control of major hubs make it harder for others to compete with Delta, American and United.

Read more on MarketWatch

Over decades, Peronism built up strong loyalty and territorial control in the province by forging close ties to organized labor and grassroots organizations, handing out pensions for retired manual laborers and stipends for young mothers.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• adherence 
• allegiance 
• devotion 
• faith 
• fealty 
• fidelity 
• honesty 
• honor 
• integrity 
• obedience 
• patriotism 
• reliability 
• sincerity 
• support 
• tie 
• trustworthiness