loyal

[loi-uh l] /ˈlɔɪ əl/
adjective
1.
faithful to one's sovereign, government, or state:
a loyal subject.
2.
faithful to one's oath, commitments, or obligations:
to be loyal to a vow.
3.
faithful to any leader, party, or cause, or to any person or thing conceived as deserving fidelity:
a loyal friend.
4.
characterized by or showing faithfulness to commitments, vows, allegiance, obligations, etc.:
loyal conduct.
Origin
1525-35; < Middle French, Old French loial, le(i)al < Latin lēgālis legal
Related forms
loyally, adverb
loyalness, noun
nonloyal, adjective
nonloyally, adverb
overloyal, adjective
overloyally, adverb
quasi-loyal, adjective
quasi-loyally, adverb
superloyal, adjective
superloyally, adverb
unloyal, adjective
unloyally, adverb
Synonyms
1. patriotic. 2. See faithful.
Antonyms
1. faithless, treacherous.
Examples from the web for loyal
  • We were comrades for better or worse from the day she put her hand in mine, and never was there a more loyal and faithful one.
  • Horses have been our faithful servants, our tireless comrades, and our loyal friends.
  • With proper conditioning a subject could be turned into an enthusiastic soldier or a loyal customer.
  • The scientists say orchids became successful by changing or sharing pollinators, but staying loyal to fungi.
  • As with people, the smaller the circle, the stronger and more loyal the bond.
  • Western music is loyal to a sound and an image and a lifestyle.
  • Intensely loyal to friends and colleagues, he was capable of appalling temper outbursts.
  • You've got to feel fiercely loyal to your college to put in the necessary hours and endure the inevitable setbacks.
  • Fans of his econometrics lectures are so loyal that some even sent him money to buy a new camera to improve the image quality.
  • He gave loyal allegiance to the ministers, and was dazzled by their piety and learning.
British Dictionary definitions for loyal

loyal

/ˈlɔɪəl/
adjective
1.
having or showing continuing allegiance
2.
faithful to one's country, government, etc
3.
of or expressing loyalty
Derived Forms
loyally, adverb
loyalness, noun
Word Origin
C16: from Old French loial, leial, from Latin lēgālislegal
Word Origin and History for loyal
adj.

1530s, in reference to subjects of sovereigns or governments, from Middle French loyal, from Old French loial, leal "of good quality; faithful; honorable; law-abiding; legitimate, born in wedlock," from Latin legalem, from lex "law." In most cases it has displaced Middle English leal, which is from the same French source. Sense development in English is feudal, via notion of "faithful in carrying out legal obligations." In a general sense (of dogs, lovers, etc.), from c.1600. As a noun meaning "those who are loyal" from 1530s (originally often in plural).