1
: having or showing true and constant support or loyalty
a faithful friend/companion
faithful friendship
the team's faithful fans
a faithful dog
—often + toDespite his problems, his friends have remained faithful to him.
She has always remained faithful to the values she learned as a child.
2
: deserving trust : keeping your promises or doing what you are supposed to do
a faithful worker/servant
She has provided the company with many years of faithful service.
—often + toHe began to keep a journal and was faithful to it for years. [=he continued to write in his journal for many years]
He was not faithful to his word. [=he did not do what he said he would]
3
: not having sex with someone who is not your wife, husband, girlfriend, or boyfriend
a faithful husband/wife
He insists that he has always been faithful to his wife.
4
: exact and accurate
The movie was a faithful adaptation of the book.
a faithful copy
—often + toThe movie is faithful to the book. [=the story told in the movie closely matches the story told in the book]
Cite this Entry
“Faithful.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/faithful. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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