fidelity

noun fi·del·i·ty \ fə-ˈde-lə-tē , fī- \

|Updated on: 16 Jun 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: fidelity in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Have a Little Faith in fidelity

Definition of fidelity

plural fidelities

1 a : the quality or state of being faithful

his fidelity to his wife

b : accuracy in details : exactness

The movie's director insisted on total fidelity to the book.

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

See fidelity defined for English-language learners

See fidelity defined for kids

fidelity was our Word of the Day on 06/30/2017. Hear the podcast!

Examples of fidelity in a Sentence

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
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
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
music with much higher fidelity than on cassettes
they have never wavered in their fidelity to the cause of freedom

Recent Examples of fidelity from the Web

That post started a daylong discussion of fidelity, love, curiosity, whether Victor is in a troubled relationship and more.

— scott horner, Indianapolis Star, "Victor Oladipo plays a relationship therapist on Twitter," 8 June 2018
Tidal is aggressively trying to upgrade its subscribers beyond the almost-universal $9.99 price point by promoting its high-fidelity tier for $19.99 -- and appears to be succeeding.

— ed christman, Billboard, "Why the Music Industry Is Still Rooting For Tidal, Despite Chronic Payment Issues," 6 June 2018
Could Manafort’s stumble inspire Trump to reconsider his fidelity?

— abigail tracy, The Hive, "The Odds That Robert Mueller Breaks Paul Manafort Just Went Up," 5 June 2018
Maybe, to you, there are other, more important ways to demonstrate your devotion than fidelity.

— cari romm, The Cut, "How to Ask Your Partner for an Open Relationship," 1 June 2018
But rasterization has problems that limit its visual fidelity.

— peter bright, Ars Technica, "DirectX Raytracing is the first step toward a graphics revolution," 19 Mar. 2018
His campaign says the contrast is not party fidelity but about authenticity, accusing Nelson of talking like a moderate but voting another way.

— alex leary, miamiherald, "'Old reliable' Bill Nelson strives to define himself in U.S. Senate reelection battle | Miami Herald," 18 May 2018
In their ruthless approach to love and fidelity, Maluma’s women have achieved ultimate equality, winning, losing and playing at the same pace as their men.

— leila cobo, Billboard, "Maluma's 'F.A.M.E.': 5 Essential Tracks," 18 May 2018
One night while sitting alone in her apartment worrying about Con's fidelity, Emer is visited by a little Irish doorman.

— ron charles, chicagotribune.com, "As a novelist, David Duchovny is no Sean Penn," 3 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fidelity.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Have a Little Faith in fidelity

You can have faith in "fidelity," which has existed in English since the 15th century; its etymological path winds back through Middle English and Middle French, eventually arriving at the Latin verb fidere, meaning "to trust." "Fidere" is also an ancestor of other English words associated with trust or faith, such as "fiduciary" (which means "of, relating to, or involving a confidence or trust" and is often used in the context of a monetary trust) and "confide" (meaning "to trust" or "to show trust by imparting secrets"). Nowadays "fidelity" is often used in reference to recording and broadcast devices, conveying the idea that a broadcast or recording is "faithful" to the live sound or picture that it reproduces.

Origin and Etymology of fidelity

Middle English fidelite, borrowed from Middle French fidelité, borrowed from Latin fidēlitāt-, fidēlitās, from fidēlis "faithful, loyal, trustworthy" (from fidē-, stem of fidēs "trust, belief, faith" +-lis, denominal suffix of appurtenance) + -itāt-, -itās -ity

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

fidelity Synonyms

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

FIDELITY Defined for English Language Learners

fidelity

noun

Definition of fidelity for English Language Learners

: the quality of being faithful to your husband, wife, or sexual partner
: the quality of being faithful or loyal to a country, organization, etc.
: the degree to which something matches or copies something else

FIDELITY Defined for Kids

fidelity

noun fi·del·i·ty \ fə-ˈde-lə-tē , fī- \

Definition of fidelity for Students

1 : loyalty

They swore fidelity to the king.

2 : accuracy

I described the scene with fidelity.

Word Root of fidelity

The Latin word fidēs, meaning “faith,” gives us the root fid. Words from the Latin fidēs have something to with being faithful. Fidelity is faith or loyalty. To confide in someone is to show trust in the person by telling her or him a secret. Someone who is confident has faith that he or she will do something correctly and successfully.

Law Dictionary

fidelity

noun fi·del·i·ty \ fə-ˈde-lə-tē, fī- \

legal Definition of fidelity

: the quality or state of being faithful or loyal; especially : loyalty to one's spouse in refraining from adultery and sometimes in submitting to a spouse's reasonable sexual desires