loyalty
LOY-uhl-tee
Loyalty (noun) means Steady faithfulness and support toward a person, group, or cause. Example: “He showed great loyalty to his friends by standing beside them during the trial.”
noun
1
Steady faithfulness and support toward a person, group, or cause.
"Over the violence and the proud loyalties, over the sold-out-ness and the cruel indifference, there is light reclothing us in a kind of strange innocence."
— Michael P. Knowles, The Folly of Preaching: Models and Methods (2007)
"He showed great loyalty to his friends by standing beside them during the trial."
"Her loyalty to her family never wavered, even in hard times."
"The company rewards customer loyalty with discounts and perks."
"He showed loyalty to his local football club after successive relegations."
How to use loyalty
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe quality of being loyal — sticking with someone or something out of devotion or duty.
Common pairings
loyalty program
blind loyalty
earn someone's loyalty
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Word forms
- Plural
- loyalties
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He showed great _____ to his friends by standing beside them during the trial.
Etymology
From Old French "loialté," built from "loial" (loyal) plus the noun-forming suffix "-té."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for loyalty
See all rhymes for loyalty →Frequently asked questions
What does “loyalty” mean?
The word “loyalty” means steady faithfulness and support toward a person, group, or cause. In plain terms, the quality of being loyal — sticking with someone or something out of devotion or duty.
How do you pronounce “loyalty”?
“Loyalty” is pronounced LOY-uhl-tee (/ˈlɔɪəlti/ in IPA).
How do you use “loyalty” in a sentence?
Here is “loyalty” used in a sentence: “Her loyalty to her family never wavered, even in hard times.”
What is another word for “loyalty”?
Words with a similar meaning to “loyalty” include trueness and faith.
What is the opposite of “loyalty”?
The opposite of “loyalty” — its antonyms — is disloyalty.
What part of speech is “loyalty”?
“Loyalty” is a noun.
Where does the word “loyalty” come from?
The word “loyalty” comes from Old French. From Old French "loialté," built from "loial" (loyal) plus the noun-forming suffix "-té.".
Is “loyalty” a common word?
“Loyalty” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between loyalty and allegiance?
Loyalty is steady, often personal faithfulness and support toward someone or something. Allegiance is more formal, describing a declared or owed duty of support, such as allegiance to a country, monarch, or flag.
What is the difference between loyalty and faithfulness?
Loyalty stresses steadfast support and defence of a person, group, or cause. Faithfulness emphasises staying true and reliable, especially in keeping promises, and is often used of close personal relationships.
What preposition goes with loyalty?
Loyalty is normally followed by the preposition to, as in loyalty to a friend, a team, or a cause. The related adjective follows the same pattern, as in loyal to.
Can loyalty ever be viewed negatively?
Loyalty is generally seen as a positive quality reflecting faithfulness and reliable support. It can be viewed negatively only when misplaced, such as when someone defends clear wrongdoing purely out of allegiance.
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