staunch

[ stawnch, stahnch ]
See synonyms for: staunchstauncheststaunchlystaunchness on Thesaurus.com

adjective,staunch·er, staunch·est.
  1. firm or steadfast in principle, adherence, loyalty, etc., as a person: a staunch Republican; a staunch friend.

  2. characterized by firmness, steadfastness, or loyalty: He delivered a staunch defense of the government.

  1. strong; substantial: a staunch little hut in the woods.

  2. impervious to water or other liquids; watertight: a staunch vessel.

Origin of staunch

1
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English sta(u)nch, from Middle French estanche (feminine), estanc (masculine), derivative of estancher “to close, stop”; see stanch1

synonym study For staunch

1. See steadfast.

Other words for staunch

Other words from staunch

  • staunch·ly, adverb
  • staunch·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use staunch in a sentence

  • But perhaps of them all, their best and staunchest friends were old Dan Higgins and his daughter, Meggy.

  • Stewart was an upholder of Whig principles, when the Scottish government was in the hands of the staunchest Tories.

  • He and I, and Peterkin afterwards, became the best and staunchest friends that ever tossed together on the stormy waves.

    The Coral Island | R.M. Ballantyne
  • Liber and his colleague Dahn were at that time among the staunchest supporters of the policy of the Entente in Russia.

  • The Senator from Stackpole reassured all of these with whom he talked, and was one of their staunchest allies and supporters.

    In the Arena | Booth Tarkington

British Dictionary definitions for staunch (1 of 2)

staunch1

/ (stɔːntʃ) /


adjective
  1. loyal, firm, and dependable: a staunch supporter

  2. solid or substantial in construction

  1. rare (of a ship, etc) watertight; seaworthy

Origin of staunch

1
C15: (originally: watertight): from Old French estanche, from estanchier to stanch

Derived forms of staunch

  • staunchly, adverb
  • staunchness, noun

British Dictionary definitions for staunch (2 of 2)

staunch2

/ (stɔːntʃ) /


verb, noun
  1. a variant spelling of stanch

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