lealtad
nounCEFR B2
What does “lealtad” mean in English?
loyalty, fidelity
loyalty, fidelity (faithful commitment to a person, group, or cause, even under pressure)
Example sentences
La lealtad hacia el partido no debería anular el criterio propio de un diputado frente a decisiones que considera injustas.
Loyalty to the party should not override an MP's personal judgement when faced with decisions they consider unjust.
Años de trabajo en común habían forjado entre ellos una lealtad que sobrevivió a diferencias ideológicas profundas.
Years of working together had forged between them a loyalty that survived deep ideological differences.
How to use it
La lealtad means 'loyalty' — faithful allegiance to a person, group, cause, or principle over time, even when pressured to abandon it. At B2 it is used in personal, institutional, political, and professional contexts. Key collocations: la lealtad hacia alguien/algo, demostrar lealtad, la lealtad incondicional, poner a prueba la lealtad. Important distinction: lealtad implies an active, demonstrated faithfulness — it is something you show, earn, and can lose. Its counterpart traición is what happens when lealtad breaks down. Don't confuse with fidelidad (faithfulness — often romantic/sexual) or confianza (trust — the state, not the active commitment).
Common mistake
Lealtad (loyalty — active, demonstrated faithfulness) vs fidelidad (faithfulness — often romantic, also commercial brand loyalty) vs confianza (trust — a state of mind, not an active commitment). 'Brand loyalty' in marketing = 'fidelidad a la marca'; personal political loyalty = 'lealtad hacia el partido'.