loyalty

noun

loy·​al·​ty ˈlȯi(-ə)l-tē 

plural loyalties

: the quality or state or an instance of being loyal

the loyalty of the team's fans

Synonyms

• adhesion
• allegiance
• attachment
• commitment
• constancy
• dedication
• devotedness
• devotion
• faith
• faithfulness
• fastness
• fealty
• fidelity
• piety
• steadfastness
• troth

Choose the Right Synonym for loyalty

fidelity, allegiance, fealty, loyalty, devotion, piety mean faithfulness to something to which one is bound by pledge or duty.

fidelity implies strict and continuing faithfulness to an obligation, trust, or duty.

marital fidelity

allegiance suggests an adherence like that of citizens to their country.

pledging allegiance

fealty implies a fidelity acknowledged by the individual and as compelling as a sworn vow.

fealty to the truth

loyalty implies a faithfulness that is steadfast in the face of any temptation to renounce, desert, or betray.

valued the loyalty of his friends

devotion stresses zeal and service amounting to self-dedication.

a painter's devotion to her art

piety stresses fidelity to obligations regarded as natural and fundamental.

filial piety

Examples of loyalty in a Sentence

the loyalty of the team's fans

there was no denying that dog's loyalty to his master

Recent Examples on the Web

Strong connections drive loyalty, turning readers into advocates. —Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025

The sitting President, elected on an explicit platform of revenge against his political enemies, entered office by instituting loyalty tests, banning words, purging civil servants, and installing an F.B.I. director who made his name promising to punish his boss’s critics. —Julia Angwin, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2025

My distrust of Trump is anchored in his track record of personally courting white supremacists and neo-Nazis, spreading conspiracy theories featuring antisemitic tropes, and insinuating that Jewish-Americans have dual loyalty. —Ben Krull, New York Daily News, 12 Apr. 2025

Pro-climate actions have been found to improve employee and customer loyalty. —Ethan I. Thorpe, The Conversation, 11 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

alteration of Middle English leawte, lewte, from Anglo-French lealté, leauté, from leal, leial loyal

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing loyalty

• divided loyalty

Rhymes for loyalty

• royalty
• disloyalty
• viceroyalty

Kids Definition

loyalty

noun

loy·​al·​ty ˈlȯi(-ə)l-tē 

plural loyalties

: the quality or state of being loyal