fidelity

fi·del·i·ty

noun \fə-ˈde-lə-tē, fī-\

plural fi·del·i·ties

Definition of FIDELITY

1

a : the quality or state of being faithful

b : accuracy in details : exactness

2

: the degree to which an electronic device (as a record player, radio, or television) accurately reproduces its effect (as sound or picture)

Examples of FIDELITY

1. music with much higher fidelity than on cassettes
2. <they have never wavered in their fidelity to the cause of freedom>
3. Yet as Reardon emphasizes early on, fidelity to facts was never the point. The same dinner with friends could appear over and over in Fisher's published work, rejiggered each time to make a different point. —Laura Shapiro, New York Times Book Review, 12 Dec. 2004
4. It is a world familiar to all children, and it is this fidelity to child life that gives resonance to Hoffmann's tale and makes it an extraordinary work of art. —Maurice Sendak, Caldecott & Co., 1988
5. Chaucer's patient Griselda proved her fidelity to her husband by resisting the prodigious reasons he gave her for being unfaithful. —B. F. Skinner, Beyond Freedom and Dignity, 1971

Origin of FIDELITY

Middle English fidelite, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French fidelité, from Latin fidelitat-, fidelitas, from fidelis faithful, from fides faith, from fidere to trust — more at bide

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to FIDELITY

Synonyms

adhesion, allegiance, attachment, commitment, constancy, dedication, devotedness, devotion, faith, faithfulness, fastness, fealty, loyalty, piety, steadfastness, troth

Antonyms

disloyalty, faithlessness, falseness, falsity, inconstancy, infidelity, perfidiousness, perfidy, treachery, unfaithfulness

Related Words

affection, fondness; determination, firmness, resolution; dependability, reliability, trustability, trustiness, trustworthiness

Near Antonyms

alienation, disaffection, estrangement, separation

Synonym Discussion of FIDELITY

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>.

Other Audio Recording Terms

baffle, dub, transcription, treble