fiduciary

1 of 2

adjective

fi·​du·​cia·​ry fə-ˈdü-shē-ˌer-ē 

-shə-rē,

-ˈdyü-,

fī-

: of, relating to, or involving a confidence or trust: such as

a

: held or founded in trust or confidence

a fiduciary relationship

a bank's fiduciary obligations

b

: holding in trust

c

: depending on public confidence for value or currency

fiduciary fiat money

fiduciary

2 of 2

noun

plural fiduciaries

: one that holds a fiduciary relation or acts in a fiduciary capacity

Did you know?

Fiduciary relationships are often of the financial variety, but the word fiduciary does not, in and of itself, suggest pecuniary ("money-related") matters. Rather, fiduciary applies to any situation in which one person justifiably places confidence and trust in someone else, and seeks that person's help or advice in some matter. The attorney-client relationship is a fiduciary one, for example, because the client trusts the attorney to act in the best interest of the client at all times. Fiduciary can also be used as a noun referring to the person who acts in a fiduciary capacity, and fiduciarily or fiducially can be called upon if you are in need of an adverb. The words are all faithful to their origin: Latin fīdere, which means "to trust."

Examples of fiduciary in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

According to the Directors and Boards study, directors are observing a potential shift in the topics that boards consider material to the business and their fiduciary duties. —John M. Bremen, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024

Other shareholders filed two lawsuits against Walmart, claiming some current and former directors and officers breached their fiduciary duties and violated federal securities law, also in connection with the company's distribution and dispensing of prescription opioids. —Serenah McKay, arkansasonline.com, 22 Oct. 2024

Noun

Just to note again that the board’s fiduciary is to the corporation and in doing so must take account of shareholder and stakeholder interests. —Robert G. Eccles, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024

In the typical case, a fiduciary is the party charged with managing money or property on behalf of someone else. —Nick Dedeke, Ars Technica, 28 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from Latin fīdūciārius "holding in trust, of a trustee, (of property) held on trust," from fīdūcia "transference of a property on trust, trust, reliance, confidence" (from *fīdūcus "trusting" —from fīdere "to trust [in], have confidence [in]" + -ūcus, deverbal adjective suffix— + -ia -ia entry 1) + -ārius -ary entry 2 — more at faith entry 1

Noun

borrowed from Medieval Latin fīdūciārius, noun derivative of Latin fīdūciārius, adjective, "holding in trust, of a trustee" — more at fiduciary entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1641, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1631, in the meaning defined above

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Legal Definition

fiduciary

1 of 2 noun

fi·​du·​cia·​ry fə-ˈdü-shə-rē, -ˈdyü-, -shē-ˌer-ē 

plural fiduciaries

: one often in a position of authority who obligates himself or herself to act on behalf of another (as in managing money or property) and assumes a duty to act in good faith and with care, candor, and loyalty in fulfilling the obligation : one (as an agent) having a fiduciary duty to another see also fiduciary duty at duty, fiduciary relationship compare principal

fiduciary

2 of 2 adjective

1

: of, relating to, or involving a confidence or trust

a guardian acting in his fiduciary capacity

2

: of or relating to a fiduciary or the position of a fiduciary

a fiduciary bond

Etymology

Adjective

Latin fiduciarius, from fiducia trust, transfer of a property on trust