Fidelity
noun /fɪˈdɛlɪti/ — Faithfulness and loyalty — the quality of being exactly true to something.
Definition
Faithfulness to a person, cause, or commitment; also the degree of accuracy with which something is reproduced. Both meanings share the root: exact, true correspondence.
Beyond the definition
Fidelity is the most precise loyalty word. It doesn't just mean staying — it means remaining true, not drifting, not substituting something easier for the original commitment. It is faithfulness with standards.
Origin & history
Latin 'fidelitas' — from 'fidelis' (faithful, loyal), from 'fides' (faith, trust). The same root as 'confide,' 'confidence,' 'fiancé.' Trust and faithfulness share a language.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The historian's fidelity to primary sources was what made her work trustworthy.
Fidelity in a relationship is not just about what you don't do — it's about actively choosing the person you chose.
He admired her fidelity to the project even when it stopped being fashionable.
Synonyms
faithfulness, loyalty, devotion, constancy
Antonyms
betrayal, infidelity, disloyalty
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Reviewing a single important document
An adult stands in a grand, silent, wood-paneled courtroom, holding a single document with formal, serious commitment.
The adult’s serious commitment to the document signifies fidelity to the law and the principles it contains. It shows the accuracy and truth of one's word, as the person stands within a space that demands complete and unwavering adherence to the truth.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration