Word
disloyal
Phoneticsdis·loy·al, stress on the second syllable
US/dɪˈsɫɔɪəɫ/
UK/dɪslˈɔɪəl/
Definition
adj. behaving in a way that shows you do not support or care for someone or something you are supposed to. You use this when someone breaks a promise or betrays a friend.
adj. behaving in a manner that shows a lack of support or fidelity to a person, group, or cause. Often used to describe actions that violate a sense of duty or trust.
Examples
“He felt disloyal when he told his friend's secret.”
“The manager was fired for being disloyal to the company by sharing confidential plans with a competitor.”
“The politician faced intense criticism for his disloyal behavior, which many viewed as a betrayal of the very principles he had once championed.”
Examples
simple
“He felt disloyal when he told his friend's secret.”
contextual
“The manager was fired for being disloyal to the company by sharing confidential plans with a competitor.”
complex
“The politician faced intense criticism for his disloyal behavior, which many viewed as a betrayal of the very principles he had once championed.”
Etymology
From Middle English, from Anglo-Norman desleal, desloial, equivalent to dis- + loyal.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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