loyalist
UK: ˈlɔɪəlɪst | US: ˈlɔɪəlɪst
n. a person who remains loyal to a ruler, government, or political party, especially during a revolt or change in leadership
n. (historical) a supporter of the British crown during the American Revolution
loyalist = loyal<faithful> + ist<one who practices>
- loyal: From Old French loial (faithful, lawful), derived from Latin legalis (legal), from lex (law).
- ist: A suffix from Greek -istes, via Latin -ista, denoting a person who practices or is concerned with something.
Etymology Origin:
The term loyalist emerged in the early 17th century, combining loyal (rooted in the concept of lawful allegiance) with -ist (indicating a person’s adherence to a cause). It gained prominence during the American Revolution to describe colonists who opposed independence from Britain, framing their stance as a principled commitment to lawful authority. The word’s structure reflects a clear dichotomy: loyal (faithfulness) + -ist (actor), making it a memorable label for political or ideological steadfastness.
Many loyalists fled to Canada after the American Revolution.
The king rewarded his loyalists with land and titles.
She remained a loyalist to the party despite its declining popularity.
Historical records show loyalists often faced persecution in revolutionary colonies.
The debate divided the community into revolutionaries and loyalists.