Definition of faithful

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faith·ful    (fthfl) KEY  

ADJECTIVE:

1. Adhering firmly and devotedly, as to a person, cause, or idea; loyal.
2. Having or full of faith.
3. Worthy of trust or belief; reliable.
4. Consistent with truth or actuality: a faithful reproduction of the portrait.

NOUN:
pl. faithful or faith·fuls

1. The practicing members of a religious faith, especially of Christianity or Islam: a pilgrimage to Mecca made by the faithful.
2. A steadfast adherent of a faith or cause: a meeting of the party faithful.

OTHER FORMS:
faithful·ly (Adverb), faithful·ness (Noun)

SYNONYMS:
faithful , loyal , true , constant , fast ¹ , steadfast , staunch ¹

These adjectives mean adhering firmly and devotedly to someone or something that elicits or demands one's fidelity. Faithful and loyal both suggest undeviating attachment, though loyal applies more often to political allegiance: a faithful employee; a loyal citizen. True implies steadiness, sincerity, and reliability: "I would be true, for there are those who trust me" (Howard Arnold Walter). Constant stresses uniformity and invariability: "But I am constant as the northern star" (Shakespeare). Fast suggests loyalty that is not easily deflected: fast friends. Steadfast strongly implies fixed, unswerving loyalty: a steadfast ally. Staunch even more strongly suggests unshakable attachment or allegiance: "He lived and died a staunch loyalist" (Harriet Beecher Stowe).

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