disloyalty

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the quality or state of failing to remain faithful to a person, group, duty, or cause

   Disloyalty would be impossible for a man who valued truth and honour above convenience.

2. 2
   noun

   an act that violates a duty of loyalty or faithful support

   Each secret message to the rival camp was a fresh disloyalty.

From Middle English disloialte, via Old French desloiaute ("disloyalty"), formed from des- ("apart, away") + loiaute ("loyalty"). Loyal and loyalty ultimately trace through Old French loial to Latin legalis ("legal"), whose sense developed from being law-abiding to being faithful.

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