fiduciary

1 of 2

adjective

fi·​du·​cia·​ry fə-ˈdü-shē-ˌer-ē 

-shə-rē,

-ˈdyü-,

fī-

: of, relating to, or involving a confidence or trust: such as

a

: held or founded in trust or confidence

a fiduciary relationship

a bank's fiduciary obligations

b

: holding in trust

c

: depending on public confidence for value or currency

fiduciary fiat money

fiduciary

2 of 2

noun

plural fiduciaries

: one that holds a fiduciary relation or acts in a fiduciary capacity

Did you know?

Fiduciary relationships are often of the financial variety, but the word fiduciary does not, in and of itself, suggest pecuniary ("money-related") matters. Rather, fiduciary applies to any situation in which one person justifiably places confidence and trust in someone else, and seeks that person's help or advice in some matter. The attorney-client relationship is a fiduciary one, for example, because the client trusts the attorney to act in the best interest of the client at all times. Fiduciary can also be used as a noun referring to the person who acts in a fiduciary capacity, and fiduciarily or fiducially can be called upon if you are in need of an adverb. The words are all faithful to their origin: Latin fīdere, which means "to trust."

Examples of fiduciary in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

RIAs are companies with a fiduciary duty to always act in their client’s best interests. —Rachel Barber, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025

The resulting project built a multimedia curriculum to help trustees focus on measurable student outcomes and close equity gaps, positioning student success as central to long-term institutional sustainability and part of boards’ fiduciary duty. —Dr. Aviva Legatt, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025

Noun

Assure that your advisor is a fiduciary, obligated to act in your best interest. —Ira Walker, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025

The definition of a fiduciary is clear: the person with fiduciary responsibility is obligated to act in the best interest of the beneficiary. —Christopher Marquis, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from Latin fīdūciārius "holding in trust, of a trustee, (of property) held on trust," from fīdūcia "transference of a property on trust, trust, reliance, confidence" (from *fīdūcus "trusting" —from fīdere "to trust [in], have confidence [in]" + -ūcus, deverbal adjective suffix— + -ia -ia entry 1) + -ārius -ary entry 2 — more at faith entry 1

Noun

borrowed from Medieval Latin fīdūciārius, noun derivative of Latin fīdūciārius, adjective, "holding in trust, of a trustee" — more at fiduciary entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1641, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1631, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fiduciary

• accessary
• adversary
• ancillary
• arbitrary
• aviary
• axillary
• beriberi
• breviary
• budgetary
• capillary
• catenary
• cautionary

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Legal Definition

fiduciary

1 of 2 noun

fi·​du·​cia·​ry fə-ˈdü-shə-rē, -ˈdyü-, -shē-ˌer-ē 

plural fiduciaries

: one often in a position of authority who obligates himself or herself to act on behalf of another (as in managing money or property) and assumes a duty to act in good faith and with care, candor, and loyalty in fulfilling the obligation : one (as an agent) having a fiduciary duty to another see also fiduciary duty at duty, fiduciary relationship compare principal

fiduciary

2 of 2 adjective

1

: of, relating to, or involving a confidence or trust

a guardian acting in his fiduciary capacity

2

: of or relating to a fiduciary or the position of a fiduciary

a fiduciary bond

Etymology

Adjective

Latin fiduciarius, from fiducia trust, transfer of a property on trust