loyal

adjective

loy·​al ˈlȯi(-ə)l How to pronounce loyal (audio)
1
: unswerving in allegiance: such as
a
: faithful in allegiance to one's lawful sovereign or government
were loyal to the king
b
: faithful to a private person to whom faithfulness is due
a loyal husband
c
: faithful to a cause, ideal, custom, institution, or product
a loyal churchgoer
loyal to the party of their forebearsDennis Farney
2
: showing loyalty
a loyal friend
3
obsolete : lawful, legitimate
loyally adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for loyal

faithful, loyal, constant, staunch, steadfast, resolute mean firm in adherence to whatever one owes allegiance.

faithful implies unswerving adherence to a person or thing or to the oath or promise by which a tie was contracted.

faithful to her promise

loyal implies a firm resistance to any temptation to desert or betray.

remained loyal to the czar

constant stresses continuing firmness of emotional attachment without necessarily implying strict obedience to promises or vows.

constant friends

staunch suggests fortitude and resolution in adherence and imperviousness to influences that would weaken it.

a staunch defender of free speech

steadfast implies a steady and unwavering course in love, allegiance, or conviction.

steadfast in their support

resolute implies firm determination to adhere to a cause or purpose.

a resolute ally

Examples of loyal in a Sentence

The team has many loyal fans. She has provided the company with many years of loyal service.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
After spending years in Mercedes's developmental program, Russell is committed to remaining loyal, but time will tell if the team reciprocates his faith. Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025 As for the loyal opposition, Democrats are in bad odor with voters and even many of their own partisans after Joe Biden’s handlers gaslighted the public on the frailty and declining faculties of the octogenarian president. Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2025 He’s still got the voice, though a bit gravely, and a very loyal fan base. jsonline.com, 4 July 2025 From creator and executive producer Bruce W. Smith and executive producer Ralph Farquhar, Season 3 finds Penny Proud and her loyal crew embarking on international escapades, wild adventures, and fantastical stops packed with hilarity, heart, and, most of all, discovery, per the logline. Denise Petski, Deadline, 3 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for loyal

Word History

Etymology

Middle French, from Old French leial, leel, from Latin legalis legal

First Known Use

1531, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of loyal was in 1531

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Loyal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loyal. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

loyal

adjective
loy·​al ˈlȯi(-ə)l How to pronounce loyal (audio)
1
a
: faithful to one's lawful government
b
: faithful to a person to whom allegiance or affection is due
2
: faithful to a cause or ideal
loyally adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on loyal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!