adj
staunch
stawnsh
adj
1
Firmly loyal and unwavering in support of a person, belief, or cause.
"She remained a staunch supporter of the charity for over thirty years."
"He was a staunch defender of free speech, even when it was unpopular."
2
Solidly built and watertight; not leaking.
"The old boat proved surprisingly staunch despite its age."
verb
1
To stop the flow of something, especially blood (more commonly spelled "stanch").
"He pressed a cloth to the wound to staunch the bleeding."
How to Use Staunch
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFirmly loyal and dependable, or (older sense) solid and watertight.
Common mistake
"Staunch" and "stanch" both trace back to the same French root; in modern usage "staunch" is the adjective (a staunch ally) and "stanch" the verb (to stanch bleeding), though British English often uses "staunch" for both.
Easily confused with
stanch
Common pairings
staunch supporter
staunch ally
staunch defender
Word Forms
stauncher comparative, staunches plural, staunchest superlative
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She remained a _____ supporter of the charity for over thirty years.
Etymology
From Old French estanche, "watertight," related to estanchier, "to stop a flow of liquid" — the same root gives us "stanch."