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

  • They induced the French to respect the staunchness of the German spirit.

  • This renewed assurance of the staunchness of my tight little tin pan was by no means unwelcome.

    Down the Yellowstone | Lewis R. Freeman
  • We all of us recognize the staunchness of his principles; we all—all of us here assembled—know the excellence of his work.

    Such is Life | Frank Wedekind
  • All that structure finds its support and staunchness in what they call the cates, which are the buoys of which we have spoken.

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