staunch
Americanadjective
-
firm or steadfast in principle, adherence, loyalty, etc., as a person.
a staunch Republican; a staunch friend.
-
characterized by firmness, steadfastness, or loyalty.
He delivered a staunch defense of the government.
- Synonyms:
- resolute
-
a staunch little hut in the woods.
-
impervious to water or other liquids; watertight.
a staunch vessel.
adjective
-
loyal, firm, and dependable
a staunch supporter
-
solid or substantial in construction
-
rare (of a ship, etc) watertight; seaworthy
verb
Synonym Usage
See steadfast.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Adjectives
Etymology
Origin of staunch
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 stanch 1
Explanation
As an adjective, staunch means firm. You might want to go to that concert Friday night, but your parents' staunch opposition prevents you. Staunch is sometimes used as a verb to mean "to stop the flow of a liquid," but most usage books will tell you it's better to use the word stanch for the verb. Think of a soldier stopping and standing still, and you will understand the connection between the two meanings. The adjectival form should make you think of "stand," as in “stand firm,” or "take a stand." It comes from the French estanche meaning “watertight” and the Latin stanticare, which is probably from stans for “stand.”
Vocabulary lists containing staunch
Born a Crime
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"Of Plymouth Plantation," Vocabulary from the historical account
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Promises, Promises
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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:
The 54-year-old remains a staunch bitcoin advocate, and was unfazed during the multiweek recent selloff in Strategy and Stretch.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 2026
Graham was also a staunch supporter of Israel.
From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026
“He was a staunch pro-life senator with no equal.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 12, 2026
Blanchett has been a staunch proponent of protecting rights in the age of generative artificial intelligence.
From Barron's ● Jun. 23, 2026
Your defense attorney has to prove lack of motive, go through the crime-scene forensics, present a staunch defense.
From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah
Two years after the last ministerial conference in Abu Dhabi failed to make meaningful progress on key issues like fisheries and agriculture, member states face even stauncher challenges this time.
From Barron's ● Mar. 26, 2026
However, the source said Reeker tried to get the agency to issue a stauncher defense of Yovanovitch.
From Reuters ● Oct. 26, 2019
He conceived it as an alternative to 4chan, one with an even stauncher commitment to anything-goes content moderation.
From The New Yorker ● Sep. 23, 2019
Saudi Arabia and the U.S. strongly backed Hadi, and the new president proved a stauncher ally to the U.S. than Saleh in the fight against al-Qaida’s branch in the country.
From Time ● Mar. 22, 2015
When an honourable peace has been confirmed, there will be no stauncher pacifist than the soldier; but we reserve our pacifism till the war is won.
From Out To Win The Story of America in France by Dawson, Coningsby
“He became one of my staunchest supporters and schooled me on whom I could trust and whom I could never turn my back on.”
From Slate ● Feb. 25, 2026
In the year commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, it is supremely ironic that 2026 could also mark a similar declaration by America’s historically staunchest allies.
From Barron's ● Jan. 24, 2026
Some of those countries, such as Estonia, Lithuania and Poland, are now some of the alliance’s staunchest members.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 21, 2026
At Granja Elena in Zona Franca, I enjoyed a tomato and scallop tartare that could entice even the staunchest carnivore.
From Salon ● Dec. 6, 2025
Among its regional leaders were five former Confederate generals; its staunchest supporters were the plantation owners for whom Reconstruction posed an economic and political nightmare.
From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt
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.
