loyalist
Sovereign's devoted supporter
A loyalist is someone who remains faithful to an established authority, especially during a time of revolt or political upheaval.
The term often appears in historical contexts: American loyalists supported the British Crown during the Revolution; Ulster loyalists oppose Irish unification.
More broadly, loyalist describes anyone who stays committed to a leader, party, or cause when others defect: party loyalists, a loyalist faction within the company.
Loyalty owed to authority
- fidelityLoyalty or exactness
- steadfastnessFirm loyal dedication
- commitmentFirm pledge to act
- dedicationWholehearted loyalty to purpose
fealty · adherence · constancy · devotedness · faithfulness · true believer · unwavering · unswerving
Financial supporter
- defenderOne who guards another
- championTop competitor, or advocate
- advocatePublic cause supporter
- followerOne who supports another
adherent · ally · sympathizer · disciple · upholder · endorser · confederate · acolyte
Biased toward one side
- royalistAdvocate for hereditary sovereignty
- ToryBritish right-wing partisan
- monarchistSupporter of kings
- UlsterIrish northern province
unionist · king's man · pro-government · counterrevolutionary · Jacobite · confederate
One prioritizing homeland interests
- flag-waverFervent patriot
- countrymanPerson from same nation
- veteranExperienced former soldier
- patrioticDevoted to homeland
allegiance
Loyalty owed to authority
- fidelityLoyalty or exactness
- steadfastnessFirm loyal dedication
- commitmentFirm pledge to act
dedication · fealty · adherence · constancy · devotedness · faithfulness · true believer · unwavering · unswerving · staunch
backer
Financial supporter
follower · adherent · ally · sympathizer · disciple · upholder · endorser · confederate · acolyte · partisan
partisan
Biased toward one side
- royalistAdvocate for hereditary sovereignty
- ToryBritish right-wing partisan
- monarchistSupporter of kings
Ulster · unionist · king's man · pro-government · counterrevolutionary · Jacobite · confederate
nationalist
One prioritizing homeland interests
- flag-waverFervent patriot
- countrymanPerson from same nation
- veteranExperienced former soldier
- fanaticismfanaticism, zealotry, zealot, fanatic, extremism
- party politicspolitical party, party, parties, party member, party system
- US HistoryAmerican Revolution, US history, Civil War, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln
- Colonial AmericaGeorge Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, Benjamin Franklin, Declaration of Independence
- enthusiastsenthusiasts, fans, devotee, enthusiast, buff
- soldiersinfantryman, private, grenadier, grenadiers, fusilier
loyalistrebel
Authority defier
revolutionary · insurgent · dissident · separatist · insurrectionist
loyalistcollaborator
One who works jointly
quisling · spy · fifth columnist · double agent · informer
- party loyalistDevoted faction member
- brand loyalistUnwavering repeat purchaser