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 Working with Altman and those loyal to him without the oversight of a nonprofit board of directors may be an even more promising development for Microsoft than its initial OpenAI investment, said Adam Struck, managing partner of venture capital firm Struck Capital. Eli Tan, Washington Post, 20 Nov. 2023 Most were fanatically loyal to the regime but a few – at great personal risk – shared candid information about life under Stalin’s rule. Terry W. Hartle, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Nov. 2023 For loyal fans of the Parisian beauty brand, the spa menu is reliably packed with signature skin-plumping Phyto-Aromatic treatments, but the real magic lies in the bespoke therapies. Angelina Villa-Clarke, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Nov. 2023 This time, diplomats and analysts say, the ethnic violence is more a byproduct of the national battle between forces loyal to the army chief, Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and General Hamdan, rather than a coordinated campaign of slaughter. Abdi Latif Dahir, New York Times, 16 Nov. 2023 Conversely, Japan’s sales skyrocketed thanks to loyal local shoppers and a weak yen. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 14 Nov. 2023 Levy is also loyal to these Lulus and owns numerous pairs. Dana Leigh Smith, Glamour, 13 Nov. 2023 The large and loyal crowd all sang her praises and served as a fitting homecoming for the Pasadena native’s first Los Angeles music festival. Cierra Black, Essence, 12 Nov. 2023 Image: Samsung Right down to its appearance, the S Pen Creator Edition is Samsung’s real rival to the Apple Pencil which has gained a loyal fanbase of iPad creatives who prefer its combined convenience over traditional, bulkier drawing tablet setups. Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 7 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'loyal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near loyal

Cite this Entry

“Loyal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loyal. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.

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

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