trusty

American  

[truhs-tee] / ˈtrʌs ti /

adjective

trustier, trustiest

1. able to be trusted or relied on; trustworthy; reliable.

2. Archaic. trustful.

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noun

plural

trusties

1. a person or thing that is trusted.

2. a well-behaved and trustworthy convict to whom special privileges are granted.

trusty British  

/ ˈtrʌstɪ /

adjective

1. faithful or reliable

2. archaic trusting

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noun

1. someone who is trusted, esp a convict to whom special privileges are granted

Other Word Forms

• trustily adverb
• trustiness noun

Etymology

Origin of trusty

Middle English word dating back to 1175–1225; trust, -y ¹

Explanation

Use trusty to describe something you can count on, especially if you've relied on it for a long time. You don't need a fancy bike—your trusty roller skates will get you to school on time! This informal adjective is perfect for talking about people and objects that are tried-and-true, even if they're a little worn out. If your friend shows off her brand new laptop, you could say, "I'm happy with my trusty old typewriter!" Before the 14th century, trusty meant "trusting." As a noun, it can also be used to mean "trustworthy person," particularly a prisoner who has shown good conduct.

Example Sentences

Beyond Yamamoto, Ohtani and trusty veteran Tyler Glasnow, the Dodgers’ back end of the rotation is still taking shape.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 16, 2026

My trusty travel agent stepped in and tried to get me a credit for what I’d overpaid, but she said the cruise line wouldn’t budge beyond about $200 — far below what I expected.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 10, 2026

Iryna Terekh, the company’s 33-year-old technical director, compares their reliability to that of the Kalashnikov, a trusty rifle lauded for its ruggedness and simplicity.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 11, 2026

Lotus Two Slice Toaster – My trusty $20 toaster recently gave up the ghost, and I didn’t realize how much I’d been settling until I dropped a bagel into the Lotus two-slice.

From Salon • Nov. 20, 2025

Even her trusty Giddy-Yap, Rainbow! books failed to distract her.

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood