What does loyalist mean?
A loyalist is someone who remains faithful to a monarch, government, organization, cause, or other authority. The word can describe a dependable supporter in ordinary contexts, but it also has a prominent historical meaning: during the American Revolutionary War, Loyalists were American colonists who supported the British Crown. In modern political usage, the term may suggest that a person supports the established order, although it need not carry the same historical opposition. More generally, a loyalist is someone who continues to back a cause despite criticism, difficulty, or the possibility of rebellion. The related adjective loyal describes the attitude itself, while loyalty names the quality of being devoted and faithful. The word is useful when discussing political allegiance, institutional support, and the historical division between those who accepted political change and those who resisted it.
nounA loyalist is someone who remains loyal to a government, monarch, cause, organization, or other authority, especially in opposition to rebellion or political change.
- A person who supports or remains loyal to a government, monarch, organization, or cause.
- A person who supported the British Crown during the American Revolutionary War.
- A person who opposed rebellion or political change in support of the established authority.
"Despite mounting criticism, the loyalists continued to support the government."
"The speech reassured the loyalists that the government intended to honor its commitments."
"During the American Revolutionary War, Loyalists were also known as Tories."
The regular plural is used for multiple people who support or remain loyal to a government, organization, cause, or historical political position.
"The loyalists continued their campaign for greater political autonomy."
In American Revolutionary history, Loyalists chose to remain faithful to the British Crown, making a personal political allegiance the defining feature of a dangerous political identity.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does loyalist come from?
Loyalist is formed from loyal, meaning faithful or devoted, together with the suffix -ist, which indicates a person who holds or practices a particular principle or allegiance. The word entered English in the early 17th century, initially referring particularly to supporters of the Stuart monarchy. Its American Revolutionary sense developed from that earlier British political usage. Related forms include loyalty, a quality or attitude, and loyalize, a comparatively uncommon verb meaning to make loyal.
How loyalist is actually used
The term is sometimes used figuratively for a committed supporter of an organization or its policies. In historical writing about the American Revolution, the capitalized form Loyalist is common, while the broader modern sense is not necessarily political.
Easily confused with loyalist
A loyalist is a person who supports or remains loyal to a cause, authority, or organization, whereas loyalty is the quality or attitude of being faithful and devoted.
A royalist specifically supports a monarchy or monarch, while a loyalist may support any government, organization, or cause.