loyal

adjective

loy·​al ˈlȯi(-ə)l 

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 forebears

—Dennis Farney

2

: showing loyalty

a loyal friend

3

obsolete : lawful, legitimate

loyally

ˈlȯi-ə-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• steadfast
• staunch
• faithful
• devout
• true
• dedicated
• devoted

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

Proponents of the restrictions say the issue is a matter of national security, often citing concerns that individuals or businesses loyal to foreign governments could buy up large swaths of land in the U.S., posing a risk to agriculture and critical infrastructure. —Alex Driggars, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025

While Zhong has recently come under fire in China for not being loyal enough to his country after criticizing Beijing for failing to control pricing on online platforms, New Hampshire lawmakers worry that his new Nashua plant stands too close to sensitive military locations in the state. —Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 July 2025

Deep barista expertise can be a key differentiator that helps foster a loyal customer base and allows even smaller coffee shops to compete with larger chains. —Sergey Baburov, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025

The idea that there is only one legitimate identity in Iran—Persian, Shia, and loyal to the central government—was crystallized during his rule. —Jila Andalib, Hartford Courant, 28 July 2025

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

Rhymes for loyal

• royal
• disloyal
• pennyroyal

Kids Definition

loyal

adjective

loy·​al ˈlȯi(-ə)l 

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

ˈlȯi-ə-lē 

adverb