adjective B1 Intermediate Common

faithful

FAYTH-fl

Faithful (adjective) means Loyal and devoted to a person, cause, or duty. Example: “He remained a faithful friend even during her difficult divorce.”

adjective

Loyal and devoted to a person, cause, or duty.

"He remained a faithful friend even during her difficult divorce."

"The dog was faithful to its owner for fifteen years."

Not having sexual or romantic relationships outside of one's relationship or marriage.

"They promised to stay faithful to each other."

Accurate and true to the original; not distorted.

"The translation is a faithful rendering of the original poem."

noun

The devoted members or followers of a religion or cause (usually "the faithful").

"The faithful gathered at dawn for the service."

How to use faithful

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishStaying loyal and true — to a person, a relationship, or an original version of something.

Common pairings

faithful to stay faithful faithful reproduction the faithful

Word forms

more faithful comparative, faithfuls plural, most faithful superlative

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He remained a _____ friend even during her difficult divorce.

Etymology

From Middle English feithful, built from faith plus the suffix -ful ("full of").

Origin: Middle English

Synonyms

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loyal devoted steadfast true dependable constant

Related words

not right real bad true original religious responsible

Rhymes for faithful

unfaithful

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Frequently asked questions

What does “faithful” mean?

The word “faithful” means loyal and devoted to a person, cause, or duty. In plain terms, staying loyal and true — to a person, a relationship, or an original version of something.

How do you pronounce “faithful”?

“Faithful” is pronounced FAYTH-fl (/ˈfeɪθ.fl̩/ in IPA).

How do you use “faithful” in a sentence?

Here is “faithful” used in a sentence: “He remained a faithful friend even during her difficult divorce.”

What part of speech is “faithful”?

Depending on how it is used, “faithful” can be an adjective and a noun.

Where does the word “faithful” come from?

The word “faithful” comes from Middle English. From Middle English feithful, built from faith plus the suffix -ful ("full of").

Is “faithful” a common word?

“Faithful” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “faithful” have?

“Faithful” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: loyal and devoted to a person, cause, or duty.

What is the difference between faithful and loyal?

Faithful means being loyal and devoted to a person, cause, or duty, and it often carries a sense of steadfast commitment over time. Loyal is very close in meaning, but faithful more strongly suggests keeping promises and, in relationships, not straying, while loyal emphasises firm support and allegiance.

What is the difference between faithful and trustworthy?

Faithful means loyal and devoted, staying committed to a person, cause, or duty. Trustworthy means being reliable and honest so that others can depend on you; a person can be trustworthy in general without the specific devotion that faithful implies.

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