disloyalty

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "disloyalty" is an appropriate and correct word to use in written English.
It can be used to describe an act or attitude that is unfaithful to a person or cause, especially a breach of fealty or trust. An example sentence is: "Her disloyalty to her team caused them to miss their goal."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That alone may be enough to put the frighteners on the Portillo camp where allegations of whispering disloyalty towards Mr Hague have fostered mistrust of the frontrunner for the Tory leader's job.

The Guardian

Galloway responded by accusing them of "factional disloyalty" and conspiring to seize executive power.

The Guardian

But belief in its possibility exonerated him from all charges of national disloyalty.

The Guardian - Opinion

Labour survived Oswald Mosley's disloyalty in the 1930s, though his economic analysis was smarter than theirs (William Jennings Bryan too?), just as it did the SDP gang of four's defection in the 1980s.

The Guardian

The napkin tells you something about Grieve, but it shouldn't be misunderstood as a sign of disloyalty.

The Guardian

She wanted to fight the fight; she couldn't stand the idea of disloyalty.

The Guardian

You struggle with feelings of disloyalty.

The Guardian

The defectors issued a statement claiming that their resignations had been sparked by the "disloyalty" which Mr Ecevit had displayed towards Mr Ozkan, an apparent reference to an earlier agreement to step aside in his favour.After a week of confusion, Mr Ecevit is finally conceding the obvious.

The Economist

But Mr Brown knows he has nothing to gain from disloyalty now.

The Economist

John Kerry has been repeating the charge of stubbornness at every chance he gets.The administration has responded to Mr Clarke's charges with a torrent of personal censure, impugning his motives by accusing him of everything from frustrated ambition to political disloyalty and to being "out of the loop" (Dick Cheney's term).

The Economist

He has purged leaders of his army and police suspected of disloyalty, but his room for manoeuvre is shrinking.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing "disloyalty", be specific about the nature of the broken trust and its consequences. For example, instead of saying "there was disloyalty", specify "the disloyalty of leaking confidential documents led to the company's financial loss".

Common error

Avoid using "disloyalty" when the appropriate term is "disobedience". "Disloyalty" implies a breach of trust or allegiance, while "disobedience" simply means failing to follow a direct order or rule. Disobeying a dress code is disobedience, not disloyalty.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "disloyalty" is as a noun. It names a quality or an act of being disloyal. Ludwig examples show its use in various contexts, describing actions that betray trust or allegiance. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

8%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "disloyalty" functions as a noun denoting a breach of allegiance or trust. It's commonly used in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. Ludwig examples highlight the word's role in conveying disapproval of actions that violate loyalty. According to Ludwig AI, the term is grammatically sound and appropriate for use in written English. Related terms include "treachery" and "betrayal", offering nuanced alternatives. When using "disloyalty", ensure you're accurately conveying a violation of trust, rather than simple disobedience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

treachery

Emphasizes betrayal of trust; implies a more severe and harmful act than simple disloyalty.

betrayal

Focuses on the act of breaking faith or trust, often with emotional impact.

infidelity

Specifically refers to disloyalty in relationships, often romantic or marital.

faithlessness

Highlights a lack of loyalty or commitment to a cause, person, or belief.

breach of trust

Formal term indicating a violation of confidence or responsibility.

defection

Implies abandoning allegiance, often to join an opposing side.

sedition

Refers to conduct or speech inciting rebellion against authority.

apostasy

Specifically denotes abandonment of religious faith or principles.

subversion

Suggests undermining the power or authority of an established system or institution.

treason

The act of betraying one's country, especially by attempting to overthrow the government.

FAQs

How can I use "disloyalty" in a sentence?

"Disloyalty" can be used to describe an act or quality of being disloyal. For instance, "His "treachery" was seen as a profound act of "disloyalty" to his friends.".

What are some synonyms for "disloyalty"?

Alternatives to "disloyalty" include "treachery", "betrayal", and "infidelity", each carrying slightly different connotations.

Is "disloyalty" a formal or informal term?

"Disloyalty" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though its usage often appears in more serious or official discussions.

What's the difference between "disloyalty" and "dishonesty"?

"Disloyalty" involves a breach of allegiance or trust, while "dishonesty" refers to a lack of truthfulness. You can be dishonest without being disloyal, and vice versa.