Loyal vs Faithful
Loyal and faithful are words in English language that have more or less similar meaning. Many people use these words interchangeably as if these words are synonymous. Though the two words are used in place of one another in many contexts, there are subtle differences that will be talked about in this article.
Faithful
If one looks up the dictionary, he finds that loyalty and faithfulness are given as meanings of each other. This is confusing as one finds the two words in many different contexts where one is preferred over another. For example, faithful is a word that is mostly used in connection with a person who is worthy of one’s trust and confidence. If you have a servant who is reliable and trustworthy, you say that he is very faithful. Dog is one animal who is always talked in terms of being faithful to man. The word is also used to describe a man and his wife who engage in sexual relations with one another only. In fact, men and women take pride in being faithful to their spouses. Faithful is also used to refer to people having faith in a particular religion or dogma.
Loyal
Devotion of a person to a cause, an organization, country, or another person can be termed as loyalty. Loyalty is a virtue that is desirable in every man. In earlier times, kings and emperors had a coterie that included their most trustworthy and reliable nobles and satraps. They had the trust and confidence of these kings and emperors who considered them to be their loyal and faithful servants. Loyalty was a virtue that kings demanded from their nobles and ministers as they were always fearful of being deposed or overthrown by rebels. Fidel and infidel are words that are often used to refer to the loyal and those who are unfaithful respectively.
What is the difference between Loyal and Faithful?
• Faithful and loyal are adjectives used to refer to people who are reliable and trustworthy.
• In a man and woman relationship, you are faithful as a man if you do not cheat upon your spouse, but you are loyal if you are by her side always.
• Dogs and servants are always talked in terms of being faithful to their masters.
• A husband is said to be faithful to his wife is he has sexual relations exclusively with his wife.