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 of loyal

• 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

Trump carried Mahoning by more than 10,000 votes, a remarkable reversal in a previously loyal Democratic county that Obama had won by nearly 30 percentage points just 12 years earlier. — Joey Cappelletti, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026

Ryen Wickham, a youth athlete and loyal Mahomes fan in Nebraska, celebrated the season opener of the Kansas City Chiefs Monday by reposting an adorable video of herself as a little girl meeting the team’s quarterback. — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 17 Sep. 2026

For those of us particularly loyal to print and celluloid, the late festival circuit—including the Venice Biennale, New York Film Fest (NYFF), and the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)—is boasting a bumper crop. — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 16 Sep. 2026

But take the owner out of the equation, and the loyal customers stop coming, while the accounts become uncertain overnight. — Jason Sisneros, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026

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