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
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Allegiant
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Medieval Christendom, Lessons 3–5
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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:
Micron Technology is making the “smart move” to retain customers’ loyalty by not squeezing them too tightly on prices, according to Elon Musk.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 14, 2026
It has begun experimenting with credits on hotel stays, but it should make loyalty a priority, not just a promotion.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026
Boots was an early adopter of the loyalty cards commonly offered today by companies offering points and discounts to customers who sign up.
From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026
Institutions must examine the cultures and power structures in which hazing flourishes, including secrecy, expectations of unquestioned loyalty, power imbalances and norms that discourage intervention and reporting.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
Some of the flower petals that had covered her fell away, but others seemed to cling to her with a loyalty as he carried her to the once flower bed and lowered her into it.
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
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
As England progress, possibly to a final, some Scottish football fans are making tricky decisions about where their loyalties lie.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
Amos’ moody 1994 track about betrayal and shifting loyalties within female friendships doesn’t immediately suggest a homecoming sequence.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 3, 2026
Evaton West may indicate that South Africans are moving beyond loyalties forged in the struggle against apartheid, said local government expert Susan Booysen.
From Barron's ● Jun. 25, 2026
“No, my lord. I only meant—’’ “Are your loyalties divided?”
From "The Last Olympian" by Rick Riordan
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
