fealty
noun
Nicholas Dawidoff
Did you know?
In The Use of Law, published posthumously in 1629, Francis Bacon wrote, “Fealty is to take an oath upon a book, that he will be a faithful Tenant to the King.” That’s a pretty accurate summary of the early meaning of fealty. Early forms of the term were used in Middle English in the early 14th century, when they specifically designated the loyalty of a vassal to a lord. Eventually, the meaning of the word broadened. Fealty can be paid to a country, a principle, or a leader of any kind, though the synonyms fidelity and loyalty are more commonly used. Fealty comes from the Anglo-French word feelté, or fealté, which comes from the Latin noun fidēlitās, meaning “fidelity.” These words come ultimately from fidēs, the Latin word for “faith.”
Examples of fealty in a Sentence
Josh Tyrangiel, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026
Roy has countered by stressing his conservative record and independence, saying the job is about enforcing the law and defending Texas – not personal fealty.
—Philip Jankowski, Dallas Morning News, 7 Feb. 2026
The movie’s fealty to the source material, as called into question by many since the very casting of these two leads, is ultimately irrelevant.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 6 Feb. 2026
The post has sparked a bipartisan backlash and will be sure to test the limits of Republican fealty to Trump, which, amid the chaos of his second term, has been a constant.
—Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fealty
Cite this Entry
“Fealty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fealty. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy Citation
