Disloyal or Unloyal?

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Disloyal or Unloyal?

There is no difference between the meanings of the adjectives "disloyal" and "unloyal." As both describe a lack of loyalty, they are synonyms. However, "disloyal" is far more common that "unloyal."
disloyal or unloyal?
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More about "Disloyal" and "Unloyal"

Many believe that "unloyal" is wrong because "disloyal" is so much more common. (Here is evidence from Google's Ngram Viewer.) However, both versions are acceptable.

Of note, Google will search for "disloyal" if you type "unloyal," but it will not search for "unloyal" if you type "disloyal." Also, many spellcheckers will show "unloyal" as an error.

Examples with "Disloyal" and "Unloyal"

Here are two example sentences:
  • There's the most resistance to an actor singing. It's like I'm being disloyal to my industry. (Actor Kevin Bacon)
  • Normally when most people lose a pet, they get another and keep going on. But it just felt wrong to me; I felt unloyal. (Author Robert Crais)
Interactive Exercise
Here are three randomly selected questions from a larger exercise, which can be edited, printed to create an exercise worksheet, or sent via email to friends or students.

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See Also

adverse or averse? affect or effect? appraise or apprise? avenge or revenge? bare or bear? complement or compliment? dependant or dependent? discreet or discrete? disinterested or uninterested? e.g. or i.e.? envy or jealousy? imply or infer? its or it's? material or materiel? poisonous or venomous? practice or practise? principal or principle? tenant or tenet? who's or whose? What are adjectives? List of easily confused words