loyalist

noun

loy·​al·​ist ˈlȯi-ə-list How to pronounce loyalist (audio)
: one who is or remains loyal especially to a political cause, party, government, or sovereign

Examples of loyalist in a Sentence

die-hard loyalists engaging in espionage against the revolutionaries
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Heritage Foundation and other right-wing groups have spent millions of dollars recruiting and vetting an army of up to 54,000 loyalists to fill government positions. Steven Levitsky, Foreign Affairs, 11 Feb. 2025 He’s being criticized for trying to bend the executive branch to his will by staffing it with loyalists — but the idea that an independent executive is needed to restrain the president is constitutionally questionable, to put it mildly. Clive Crook, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2025 Trump is pushing both to dramatically shrink the size of government and replace bureaucrats his team has perceived as hostile to his agenda with loyalists. Maureen Groppe, USA TODAY, 6 Feb. 2025 The spending freezes and staff purges at these agencies are being carried out by Musk loyalists, most of whom appear to be young male software engineers lacking in government experience, aged from 19 to mid-20s. Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 6 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for loyalist 

Word History

First Known Use

1647, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of loyalist was in 1647

Dictionary Entries Near loyalist

Cite this Entry

“Loyalist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loyalist. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

loyalist

noun
loy·​al·​ist ˈlȯi-ə-ləst How to pronounce loyalist (audio)
: one who is or remains loyal to a political cause, government, or sovereign especially in times of revolt

More from Merriam-Webster on loyalist

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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