Word
staunch
US/ˈstɔntʃ/
UK/stˈɔːntʃ/
Definition
adj. very loyal and committed to a person, belief, or group. You use this to describe someone who stays supportive even when things get difficult.
adj. firm and steadfast in principle, adherence, or loyalty. Often used to describe political supporters, religious believers, or personal allies.
Examples
“She has always been a staunch supporter of the local library.”
“Despite the team's losing streak, their staunch fans continued to fill the stadium every weekend.”
“The senator remained a staunch advocate for environmental reform throughout her thirty-year career, refusing to compromise even under intense corporate pressure.”
Examples
simple
“She has always been a staunch supporter of the local library.”
contextual
“Despite the team's losing streak, their staunch fans continued to fill the stadium every weekend.”
complex
“The senator remained a staunch advocate for environmental reform throughout her thirty-year career, refusing to compromise even under intense corporate pressure.”
Usage
Typically used attributively before a noun like 'supporter', 'ally', or 'defender'.
Pitfall
He is a stanch supporter.
He is a staunch supporter.
While 'stanch' is a variant spelling, 'staunch' is the standard form for the adjective meaning loyal; 'stanch' is more commonly reserved for the verb meaning to stop the flow of liquid.
Real-World Examples
“Harp worked as a presenter for the right-wing One America News Network, where her staunch defence of Trump and his policies got his attention.” “It’s conservative editorially and a staunch defender of the Spanish monarchy, also known for its full-page photographic front pages which catch the eye at newspaper stands across Spain.” “A staunch ally of Sheinbaum’s mentor, former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Rocha has denied any wrongdoing and has described the charges as politically motivated.” Etymology
From Middle English staunch, staunche (“(adjective) in good condition or repair; solidly made, firm; watertight; of a person or wound: not bleeding; certain; intact; (adverb) firmly, soundly”) [and other forms], from Anglo-Norman estaunche, Old French estanche (“firm; watertight”) (modern French étanche (“airtight; watertight”)), a variant of estanc (“a pond”), from estanchier (“to stop the flow of a liquid (blood, water, etc.); to make (something) watertight; to quench (thirst)”) (modern French étancher), possibly from one of the following: From Vulgar Latin stagnicāre, from Latin stāgnum (“piece of standing water, pond; fen, swamp”), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *steh₂g- (“to drip; to seep”). From Vulgar Latin stānticāre, from stānticus (“tired”), from Latin stāns, stāntis (“standing; remaining, staying”). Stāns is the present active participle of stō (“to stand; to remain, stay”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European steh₂- (“to stand (up)”). Cognates * Italian stanco (“bored; tired”) * Portuguese estanque (“watertight”) * Romansh staunza (“a room”) * Spanish estanco (“closed, sealed; airtight; watertight”)
From Middle English staunchen, staunche (“to stop the flow of blood, diarrhoea, or other bodily fluids; to alleviate, ease; to appease, assuage, satisfy; to cure; to overcome; to put an end to; to repress, suppress; of a river or stream: to stop flowing; of waters, wind, or weather: to become calm, subside; to extinguish or put out (a fire)”) [and other forms], from Anglo-Norman estauncher, estaunchier, estanger, Old French estancher, estanchier (verb) [and other forms]; see further at etymology 1 and at stanch.
Either: * from Middle English staunche, stanche (“something which stops the flow of blood; (figuratively) shepherd’s purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris)”), from Old French estanche (“pond; tank”), from estanc (“pond”) (modern French étang (“pond; lagoon”)), from estanchier (verb): see further at etymology 2; and/or * derived directly from the verb.
See stanch (etymology 4).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/staunch