Betrayal vs. Loyalty — What's the Difference?

Betrayal is the breaking or violation of a presumptive contract, trust, or confidence that produces moral and psychological conflict within a relationship amongst individuals, between organizations or between individuals and organizations. Often betrayal is the act of supporting a rival group, or it is a complete break from previously decided upon or presumed norms by one party from the others.

Loyalty, in general use, is a devotion and faithfulness to a nation, cause, philosophy, country, group, or person. Philosophers disagree on what can be an object of loyalty, as some argue that loyalty is strictly interpersonal and only another human being can be the object of loyalty.

To give aid or information to an enemy of; commit treason against

The quality of being loyal

To inform upon or deliver into the hands of an enemy in violation of a trust or allegiance

The state or quality of being loyal.

To be false or disloyal to

Often loyalties A feeling or attitude of devoted attachment and affection

To divulge in a breach of confidence

The state of being loyal; fidelity.

To make known unintentionally

Faithfulness or devotion to some person, cause or nation.

To lead astray; deceive

The state or quality of being loyal; fidelity to a superior, or to duty, love, etc.

The act of betraying

The quality of being loyal

The act or the result of betraying.

Feelings of allegiance

An act of deliberate betrayal

The act of binding yourself (intellectually or emotionally) to a course of action;

The quality of aiding an enemy