disloyal

adjective

dis·​loy·​al (ˌ)dis-ˈlȯi(-ə)l 

: lacking in loyalty

also : showing an absence of allegiance, devotion, obligation, faith, or support

his disloyal refusal to help his friend

disloyally

(ˌ)dis-ˈlȯi-ə-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• traitorous
• unreliable

Choose the Right Synonym for disloyal

faithless, false, disloyal, traitorous, treacherous, perfidious mean untrue to what should command one's fidelity or allegiance.

faithless applies to any failure to keep a promise or pledge or any breach of allegiance or loyalty.

faithless allies

false stresses the fact of failing to be true in any manner ranging from fickleness to cold treachery.

betrayed by false friends

disloyal implies a lack of complete faithfulness to a friend, cause, leader, or country.

disloyal to their country

traitorous implies either actual treason or a serious betrayal of trust.

traitorous acts punishable by death

treacherous implies readiness to betray trust or confidence.

a treacherous adviser

perfidious adds to faithless the implication of an incapacity for fidelity or reliability.

a perfidious double-crosser

Examples of disloyal in a Sentence

It would be disloyal to abandon them.

we sensed that he was disloyal and would eventually turn on us

Recent Examples on the Web

Analysts in Colombia agree that Maduro's internal military personnel are untrained, disloyal, and that many cannot be located. —Kristina Foltz, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025

After President Trump’s 2020 election loss, upstart challengers like Newsmax and One America News looked to woo the MAGA base, some of whom were upset at Fox News after President Trump denounced the network as disloyal. —Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2025

Those who consider Loeffler disloyal don’t know him. —Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025

Picquart reopens the investigation and pushes for a retrial, butting heads with his superiors and with a disloyal, antisemitic subordinate (Grégory Gadebois)—ultimately derailing his military career in the pursuit of justice. —Richard Brody, New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French desleial, desloial, from des- dis- + leal loyal

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for disloyal

• loyal
• royal
• pennyroyal

Kids Definition

disloyal

adjective

dis·​loy·​al (ˈ)dis-ˈlȯi(-ə)l 

: lacking in loyalty

disloyally

-ˈlȯi-ə-lē 

adverb

disloyalty

-ˈlȯi(-ə)l-tē

noun