Dictionary

fidelity en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /fɪˈdɛləti/ (General-American)
• /faɪ-/ (General-American)
• (Southern-England) audio
• [-ɾi] (General-American)
• /fɪˈdɛlɪti/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From Late Middle English fidelite (“allegiance, fealty; faithfulness, trust; agreement made in good faith”), from Old French fidélité (“faithfulness, fidelity”) (modern French fidélité), from Latin fidēlitās (“faithfulness, fidelity”), from fidēlis (“dependable, trustworthy; faithful, loyal”) + -tās (suffix forming feminine abstract nouns denoting a state of being). Fidēlis is derived from fidēs (“belief, faith; confidence, trust; loyalty, fidelity; etc.”) (from Proto-Indo-European *bʰidʰ-, the zero-grade of *bʰeydʰ- (“to convince; to trust”) (whence English bide)) + -ēlis (a variant of -ālis (suffix forming adjectives of relationship)). Doublet of fealty.

Meanings

1. (uncountable) Often followed by to or towards: faithfulness or loyalty towards a person, a group, one's civic or moral duties, etc.; allegiance; (countable) an instance of this.
   • the fidelity of the civil servants to their country
   • In the ordinary intercourse of life, fidelity to engagements is a virtue: why? because in the ordinary intercourse of life, among the engagements taken there is not one in a thousand, the execution of which is not beneficial to the community upon the whole. 1802 December 17 (date written), Jeremy Bentham, “Panopticon versus New South Wales. Chapter VIII. Remedies Unavailing—Temporal.”, in John Bowring, editor, The Works of Jeremy Bentham, […], volume IV, Edinburgh: William Tait, […]; London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co., published 1843, →OCLC, page 225, column 2:
   • [T]hey ſerve thoſe that hire them, both vvith much courage and great Fidelity; but vvill not engage to ſerve for any determin'd time, and agree upon ſuch Terms, that the next day they may go over to the Enemies of thoſe vvhom they ſerve, if they offer them a greater pay: […] 1684, Thomas More, “Of Their Military Discipline”, in [Gilbert Burnet], transl., Utopia: […], London: […] Richard Chiswell […], →OCLC, 2nd book, page 163:
2. (countable, uncountable) Often followed by to or towards: faithfulness or loyalty towards a person, a group, one's civic or moral duties, etc.; allegiance; (countable) an instance of this. ▸ Faithfulness or loyalty to one's partner or spouse, including restraint from romantic or sexual relationships with third parties.
   • In vvhat other houſe, public or private, can equal ſecurity be found for the fidelity of the married, for the chaſtity of the ſingle, and for the extinction of drunkenneſs, that murderous infatuation, in compariſon of vvhich every thing elſe that goes by the name of vice is virtue? 1791, Jeremy Bentham, “§ 16. Provision for Liberated Prisoners.”, in Panopticon: Postscript; Part II: Containing a Plan of Management for a Panopticon Penitentiary-house, London: […] T[homas] Payne, […], →OCLC, pages 222–223:
3. (archaic, countable, uncountable) Often followed by to or towards: faithfulness or loyalty towards a person, a group, one's civic or moral duties, etc.; allegiance; (countable) an instance of this. ▸ Faithfulness to God and one's religion.
   • Wake up from thy rest, thine abode is in Manu. / Let me be entrusted to the fidelity which is yielded to Osiris. / Come, O Râ, Tmu [Atum], be thou adored. Do thy will daily. Grant success in presence of the cycle of the mighty gods. 1892, P[eter] le Page Renouf, “Book of the Dead [Chapter XV. Hymn II. (13)]”, in Proceedings of the Society of Biblical Archæology, volume XIV (22nd Session), London: […] [Harrison and Sons for the Society of Biblical Archaeology], →OCLC, page 356:
   • Near-synonym: faith
4. (broadly, countable, uncountable) Accuracy, or exact correspondence, to some given fact or quality; exactness.
   • Some of the photographs and drawings, […] were first reproduced by Mr. Cooper on wood by means of photography, and then engraved: by this means almost complete fidelity is ensured. 1872, Charles Darwin, “Introduction”, in The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals, London: John Murray, […], →OCLC, page 26:
   • [Samuel Taylor] Coleridge and [Johann Wolfgang von] Goethe are the only critics who have expressed our convictions with any adequate fidelity: but there is in all cultivated minds a silent appreciation of his [Shakespeare's] superlative power and beauty, which, like Christianity, qualifies the period. 1850, R[alph] W[aldo] Emerson, “Shakspeare; or, The Poet”, in Representative Men: Seven Lectures, Boston, Mass.: Phillips, Sampson and Company, […], →OCLC, page 201:
5. (broadly, countable, uncountable) The closeness of association between an organism and a plant community.
6. (broadly, countable, uncountable) Chiefly in high fidelity, low fidelity, etc.: the degree to which a system accurately reproduces an input such as an image or sound.
   • The isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase has a proofreading function that ensures the fidelity of the aminoacylation reaction, but the histidyl-tRNA synthetase lacks such a proofreading function. 2008, David L. Nelson, Michael M. Cox, Absolute Ultimate Guide for Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry, →ISBN, page S-305:
   • By placing them closer to the source, we can reduce the number of messages in the system and this in turn is likely to improve the fidelity of the system. 2003, Proceedings of the Twenty-ninth International Conference on Very Large Databases, Berlin, Germany, 9-12 September, 2003, page 58:
7. (countable, obsolete) In by one's fidelity, to break fidelity, to give fidelity, etc.: one's pledge or promise to act in good faith; an oath, a word of honour.
   • By my fidelity this is not vvell. c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii], page 55, column 1:
8. (obsolete, uncountable) Of a person: honesty, trustworthiness; (countable) an instance of this.
   • [T]he Church by her publique reading of the booke of God preacheth only as a vvitneſſe. Novv the principall thing required in a vvitneſſe is fidelitie. 1597, Richard Hooker, “Of Preaching by Reading Publiquely the Bookes of Holie Scripture; and Concerning Supposed Vntruthes in Those Translations of Scripture which We Allow to be Read; as also of the Choice which Wee Make in Reading”, in J[ohn] S[penser], editor, Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], London: […] Iohn Windet, […], →OCLC, book V, section 19, page 29:
   • Having thus cleared the antiquity of Sanchoniathon, and the Phœnician Hiſtory, vve are to next to conſider the fidelity of it. This Sanchoniathon is highly commended for, both by Porphyry, and his Tranſlator into Greek, […] 1662, Edward Stillingfleet, “Of the Phænician and Ægyptian History”, in Origines Sacræ, or A Rational Account of the Grounds of Christian Faith, […], London: […] R[obert] W[hite] for Henry Mortlock […], →OCLC, book I, page 30:
   • [O]ure lord Jeſus hymſelfe dooth tetifye vnto vs that we receiue hys body and blood. Ought we to doubte of his fidelitie and testimony? 1534 (date written), Thomas More, “A Treatice vpon the Passion of Chryste (Vnfinished) […]. The Second Lecture vpon the Blessed Sacrament.”, in Marye Basset [i.e., Mary Basset], transl., edited by Wyllyam Rastell [i.e., William Rastell], The Workes of Sir Thomas More Knyght, […], London: […] Iohn Cawod, Iohn Waly, and Richarde Tottell, published 30 April 1557, →OCLC, page 1344, column 2:

Forms

Antonyms

nullifidianism · infidelity · infidelity · infidelity · infidelity · irreligion

Deriveds

low fidelity · wireless fidelity · diffidelity · fidelity bond · multifidelity · fidelity card · no fidelity · fidelitous · biofidelity · high fidelity · fidelity insurance · polyfidelity

Hypernyms

loyalty

Relateds

solifidian · faith · nullifidian · bide · bona fide · Fidel · infidel · Fido · affidavit

Synonyms

faith

Translations (90)

la fidelitas (faithfulness or loyalty towards a person, a group, one’s civic or moral duties, etc.; an instance of this) · ms kesetiaan (faithfulness or loyalty towards a person, a group, one’s civic or moral duties, etc.; an instance of this) · tr sadık (faithfulness or loyalty to one’s partner or spouse) · ru лоя́льность (faithfulness or loyalty to one’s partner or spouse) · mi ngākaupono (faithfulness or loyalty towards a person, a group, one’s civic or moral duties, etc.; an instance of this) · gl fidelidade (faithfulness or loyalty towards a person, a group, one’s civic or moral duties, etc.; an instance of this) · mi pirihongi (faithfulness or loyalty towards a person, a group, one’s civic or moral duties, etc.; an instance of this) · ca fidelitat (degree to which a system accurately reproduces an input) · ckb ڕاستگۆیی (faithfulness or loyalty towards a person, a group, one’s civic or moral duties, etc.; an instance of this) · fa راستگویی (faithfulness or loyalty towards a person, a group, one’s civic or moral duties, etc.; an instance of this) · cy ffyddlondeb (faithfulness or loyalty to one’s partner or spouse) · ru ка́чество (degree to which a system accurately reproduces an input) · is tryggð (faithfulness or loyalty towards a person, a group, one’s civic or moral duties, etc.; an instance of this) · cmn 逼真度 (accuracy, or exact correspondence, to some given fact or quality — see also exactness) · de Redlichkeit (faithfulness or loyalty towards a person, a group, one’s civic or moral duties, etc.; an instance of this) · es fidelidad (accuracy, or exact correspondence, to some given fact or quality — see also exactness) · he דיוק (accuracy, or exact correspondence, to some given fact or quality — see also exactness) · pt fidelidade (faithfulness or loyalty towards a person, a group, one’s civic or moral duties, etc.; an instance of this) · pl wierność (accuracy, or exact correspondence, to some given fact or quality — see also exactness) · sv exakthet (accuracy, or exact correspondence, to some given fact or quality — see also exactness) · fi uskollisuus (faithfulness or loyalty to one’s partner or spouse) · es fidelidad (degree to which a system accurately reproduces an input) · fi lojaalius (faithfulness or loyalty towards a person, a group, one’s civic or moral duties, etc.; an instance of this) · gl fidelidade (accuracy, or exact correspondence, to some given fact or quality — see also exactness) · ota صداقت (faithfulness or loyalty towards a person, a group, one’s civic or moral duties, etc.; an instance of this) · fi täsmällisyys (accuracy, or exact correspondence, to some given fact or quality — see also exactness) · cmn 忠實 /忠实 (faithfulness or loyalty towards a person, a group, one’s civic or moral duties, etc.; an instance of this) · pt fidelidade (faithfulness or loyalty to one’s partner or spouse) · fi uskollisuus (closeness of association between an organism and a plant community) · cy manyldeb (accuracy, or exact correspondence, to some given fact or quality — see also exactness) · bg преданост (faithfulness or loyalty towards a person, a group, one’s civic or moral duties, etc.; an instance of this) · ja 忠実度 (degree to which a system accurately reproduces an input) · pl wierność (degree to which a system accurately reproduces an input) · pt lealdade (faithfulness or loyalty to one’s partner or spouse) · bg точност (accuracy, or exact correspondence, to some given fact or quality — see also exactness) · sv exakthet (degree to which a system accurately reproduces an input) · mi pirihonga (faithfulness or loyalty towards a person, a group, one’s civic or moral duties, etc.; an instance of this) · uk ві́рність (faithfulness or loyalty to one’s partner or spouse) · pt fidelidade (accuracy, or exact correspondence, to some given fact or quality — see also exactness) · hu ragaszkodás (faithfulness or loyalty to one’s partner or spouse) · ta நேர்மை (faithfulness or loyalty to one’s partner or spouse) · de Treue (faithfulness or loyalty to one’s partner or spouse) · bg вярност (faithfulness or loyalty to one’s partner or spouse) · ru ве́рность (faithfulness or loyalty towards a person, a group, one’s civic or moral duties, etc.; an instance of this) · mi pirihonge (faithfulness or loyalty towards a person, a group, one’s civic or moral duties, etc.; an instance of this) · pl wierność (faithfulness or loyalty to one’s partner or spouse) · is tryggð (faithfulness or loyalty to one’s partner or spouse) · es fidelidad (faithfulness or loyalty towards a person, a group, one’s civic or moral duties, etc.; an instance of this) · ta நேர்மை (faithfulness or loyalty towards a person, a group, one’s civic or moral duties, etc.; an instance of this) · cmn 忠貞 /忠贞 (faithfulness or loyalty to one’s partner or spouse) · ga dílseacht (degree to which a system accurately reproduces an input) · chr ᎪᎯᏳᏗ (faithfulness or loyalty towards a person, a group, one’s civic or moral duties, etc.; an instance of this) · fa صداقت (faithfulness or loyalty towards a person, a group, one’s civic or moral duties, etc.; an instance of this) · he נאמנות (faithfulness or loyalty to one’s partner or spouse) · bg прецизност (accuracy, or exact correspondence, to some given fact or quality — see also exactness) · gl fidelidade (degree to which a system accurately reproduces an input) · fi uskollisuus (faithfulness or loyalty towards a person, a group, one’s civic or moral duties, etc.; an instance of this) · fi toistokyky (degree to which a system accurately reproduces an input) · pt lealdade (faithfulness or loyalty towards a person, a group, one’s civic or moral duties, etc.; an instance of this) · ta ஒழுக்கம் (faithfulness or loyalty to one’s partner or spouse) · hu pontosság (accuracy, or exact correspondence, to some given fact or quality — see also exactness) · mi piripono (faithfulness or loyalty to one’s partner or spouse) · cmn 保真度 (degree to which a system accurately reproduces an input) · fr fidélité (faithfulness or loyalty towards a person, a group, one’s civic or moral duties, etc.; an instance of this) · ca fidelitat (faithfulness or loyalty towards a person, a group, one’s civic or moral duties, etc.; an instance of this) · sv fidelitet (degree to which a system accurately reproduces an input) · ga dílseacht (faithfulness or loyalty to one’s partner or spouse) · it fedeltà (faithfulness or loyalty towards a person, a group, one’s civic or moral duties, etc.; an instance of this) · sv trohet (faithfulness or loyalty to one’s partner or spouse) · uk ві́рність (faithfulness or loyalty towards a person, a group, one’s civic or moral duties, etc.; an instance of this) · sv plikttrohet (faithfulness or loyalty towards a person, a group, one’s civic or moral duties, etc.; an instance of this) · cmn 忠誠 /忠诚 (faithfulness or loyalty towards a person, a group, one’s civic or moral duties, etc.; an instance of this) · fi tarkkuus (accuracy, or exact correspondence, to some given fact or quality — see also exactness) · ar وَلَاء (faithfulness or loyalty towards a person, a group, one’s civic or moral duties, etc.; an instance of this) · he נאמנות למקור (degree to which a system accurately reproduces an input) · pt fidelidade (degree to which a system accurately reproduces an input) · de Genauigkeit (accuracy, or exact correspondence, to some given fact or quality — see also exactness) · sv trohet (faithfulness or loyalty towards a person, a group, one’s civic or moral duties, etc.; an instance of this) · gl fidelidade (faithfulness or loyalty to one’s partner or spouse) · tr sadakat (faithfulness or loyalty towards a person, a group, one’s civic or moral duties, etc.; an instance of this) · fi uskollisuus (faithfulness to God and one’s religion) · es fidelidad (faithfulness or loyalty to one’s partner or spouse) · fa درستی (faithfulness or loyalty towards a person, a group, one’s civic or moral duties, etc.; an instance of this) · hu hűség (accuracy, or exact correspondence, to some given fact or quality — see also exactness) · hu hűség (faithfulness or loyalty towards a person, a group, one’s civic or moral duties, etc.; an instance of this) · ru то́чность (accuracy, or exact correspondence, to some given fact or quality — see also exactness) · ar إِخْلَاص (faithfulness or loyalty towards a person, a group, one’s civic or moral duties, etc.; an instance of this) · hu hűség (faithfulness or loyalty to one’s partner or spouse) · cy ffyddlondeb (accuracy, or exact correspondence, to some given fact or quality — see also exactness) · ro fidelitate (faithfulness or loyalty towards a person, a group, one’s civic or moral duties, etc.; an instance of this)

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