loyalty
Americannoun
noun
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the state or quality of being loyal
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(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.
Loyalty and purity of heart are beautiful traits that many, many people on this earth have.
From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2026
Starbucks SVP of Digital and Loyalty Paul Riedel said the app is a beta experience and “an opportunity for us to listen, learn, and refine as we go.”
From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026
Loyalty sign-ups rose 14% year over year during the campaign, the company says, and members’ visit frequency and point redemptions were higher than in prior summers.
From Barron's • Feb. 26, 2026
Loyalty programs can change your purchasing behavior and lead you to pay higher prices or buy unnecessary items just to meet a threshold.
From MarketWatch • Dec. 16, 2025
Besides the fuss with Elmer and others, Traft and his pals were going around pressing folks to join the Montana Loyalty League.
From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson
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.
