Disloyalist

/dɪsˈlɔɪəlɪst/ noun

Definition

A person who is disloyal or who actively opposes loyalty to a government, ruler, or cause.

Etymology

From dis- (prefix meaning 'not' or 'opposite of') + loyalist (one who shows loyalty). The term emerged in the 18th-19th centuries to describe those who rejected established political allegiances, particularly in colonial contexts.

Kelly Says

During the American Revolution, British loyalists called American rebels 'disloyalists'—it's fascinating how the same word can flip meaning depending on whose side you're on, showing how 'loyalty' itself is a matter of perspective.

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