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

In most estate sales, the trust has a fiduciary duty to maximize the value of its assets, which generally means the team sells to the highest qualified bidder. —Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 13 May 2025

This lack of transparency raises serious questions about whether companies are meeting even their most basic fiduciary duties. —Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025

Noun

While there’s some helpful input, here are a few of my observations: Some creators on TikTok are not fiduciaries. —Rick Unser, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025

Eric Borghetti, 51, of Chelmsford, has been charged with five counts of embezzlement by a fiduciary for allegedly embezzling $328,500 from a family member. —Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 1 Apr. 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