Ask Difference

Trust vs. Loyalty — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 1, 2023
Trust is the confidence in someone's honesty and reliability, while loyalty is the steadfast allegiance or affection to a person or cause.
Trust vs. Loyalty — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Trust and Loyalty

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Key Differences

Trust is rooted in one's belief in the reliability, truth, or ability of someone or something. It's the assurance that someone will act in a certain way or that something will happen as expected. Loyalty, however, is about unwavering allegiance and commitment to a person, group, or cause.
While trust can be easily broken with a single act of betrayal, loyalty tends to be more enduring, often surviving breaches of trust. Trust is something that is often built over time, solidified by consistent actions that demonstrate honesty and dependability. Loyalty, on the other hand, might be a result of shared experiences, values, or affections, and may sometimes persist even in the absence of trust.
To trust someone is to believe in their integrity and to rely on them without doubt. This belief can be established through past experiences, known character traits, or even gut feelings. Loyalty extends beyond mere belief. It's an active choice to stand by someone, to defend them, or to prioritize their interests, often putting them above one's own.
It's possible to trust someone without being loyal to them. For instance, you might trust a colleague to complete a task on time based on their track record but might not necessarily have a deep-seated loyalty towards them. Conversely, loyalty can exist even in situations where trust has been compromised. A person might remain loyal to a friend who betrayed their trust, hoping for change or because of a shared history.

Comparison Chart

Primary Meaning

Confidence in someone's reliability or truth.
Steadfast allegiance or affection.
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Foundation

Built on evidence, reliability, and consistency.
Rooted in commitment, shared experiences, or values.

Can be broken by

Single acts of betrayal or unreliability.
Harder to break, can sometimes persist even when trust is compromised.

Nature

Passive belief or confidence.
Active choice to stand by or prioritize someone/something.

Relationship

Can exist without loyalty.
Can sometimes exist without trust.

Compare with Definitions

Trust

Confidence in the reliability or truth of someone/something.
I have complete trust in her abilities.

Loyalty

Faithfulness or allegiance to someone or something.
Her loyalty to the company is commendable.

Trust

A firm reliance on someone's character or promises.
She won the trust of her peers through consistent actions.

Loyalty

Steadfastness in supporting a person, cause, or institution.
They swore loyalty to the crown.

Trust

Assurance based on past experience.
His track record has earned our trust.

Loyalty

A strong feeling of allegiance resulting from shared experiences or values.
Their shared struggles cemented their loyalty to each other.

Trust

Entrusting something to someone as a responsibility.
I put my trust in you to handle this matter.

Loyalty

A commitment to someone even in the face of challenges.
Despite disagreements, he showed unwavering loyalty to his friend.

Trust

Firm belief in the integrity, ability, or character of a person or thing; confidence or reliance
Trying to gain our clients' trust.
Taking it on trust that our friend is telling the truth.

Loyalty

Prioritizing someone or something over others.
Her loyalty lies with her family above all else.

Trust

The condition and resulting obligation of having confidence placed in one
Violated a public trust.

Loyalty

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.

Trust

One in which confidence is placed.

Loyalty

The quality of being loyal
His extreme loyalty to the Crown

Trust

Custody; care
Left her papers in my trust during her illness.

Loyalty

The state or quality of being loyal.

Trust

Something committed into the care of another; a charge
Violated a public trust.

Loyalty

Often loyalties A feeling or attitude of devoted attachment and affection
My loyalties lie with my family.

Trust

Reliance on something in the future; hope
We have trust that the future will be better.

Loyalty

The state of being loyal; fidelity.
Brand loyalty

Trust

Reliance on the intention and ability of a purchaser to pay in the future; credit
Bought the supplies on trust from a local dealer.

Loyalty

Faithfulness or devotion to some person, cause or nation.
He showed loyalty to his local football club after successive relegations.

Trust

A legal relationship in which one party holds a title to property while another party has the entitlement to the beneficial use of that property.

Loyalty

The state or quality of being loyal; fidelity to a superior, or to duty, love, etc.
He had such loyalty to the king as the law required.
Not withstanding all the subtle baitWith which those Amazons his love still craved,To his one love his loyalty he saved.

Trust

The confidence reposed in a trustee when giving the trustee legal title to property to administer for another, together with the trustee's obligation regarding that property and the beneficiary.

Loyalty

The quality of being loyal

Trust

The property so held.

Loyalty

Feelings of allegiance

Trust

An institution or organization directed by trustees
A charitable trust.

Loyalty

The act of binding yourself (intellectually or emotionally) to a course of action;
His long commitment to public service
They felt no loyalty to a losing team

Trust

A combination of firms or corporations for the purpose of reducing competition and controlling prices throughout a business or industry.

Trust

To have or place confidence in; depend on
Only trusted his friends.
Did not trust the strength of the thin rope.
Could not be trusted to oversee so much money.

Trust

To have confidence in allowing (someone) to use, know, or look after something
Can I trust you with a secret?.

Trust

To expect with assurance; assume
I trust that you will be on time.

Trust

To give credence to; believe
I trust what you say.

Trust

To place in the care of another person or in a situation deemed safe; entrust
"the unfortunate souls who trusted their retirement savings to the stock" (Bill Barnhart).

Trust

To extend credit to.

Trust

To have or place reliance; depend
We can only trust in our guide's knowledge of the terrain.

Trust

To be confident; hope.

Trust

Confidence in or reliance on some person or quality.
He needs to regain her trust if he is ever going to win her back.
To lose trust in someone
Build up trust
A relationship built on mutual trust

Trust

Dependence upon something in the future; hope.

Trust

Confidence in the future payment for goods or services supplied; credit.
I was out of cash, but the landlady let me have it on trust.

Trust

That which is committed or entrusted; something received in confidence; a charge.

Trust

That upon which confidence is reposed; ground of reliance; hope.

Trust

(rare) Trustworthiness, reliability.

Trust

The condition or obligation of one to whom anything is confided; responsible charge or office.

Trust

(legal) The confidence vested in a person who has legal ownership of a property to manage for the benefit of another.
I put the house into my sister's trust.

Trust

(legal) An arrangement whereby property or money is given to be held by a third party (a trustee), on the basis that it will be managed for the benefit of, or eventually transferred to, a stated beneficiary; for example, money to be given to a child when he or she reaches adulthood.

Trust

A group of businessmen or traders organised for mutual benefit to produce and distribute specific commodities or services, and managed by a central body of trustees.

Trust

(computing) Affirmation of the access rights of a user of a computer system.

Trust

(transitive) To place confidence in, to rely on, to confide in.
We cannot trust anyone who deceives us.

Trust

To have faith in; to rely on for continuing support or aid.

Trust

(transitive) To give credence to; to believe; to credit.

Trust

(transitive) To hope confidently; to believe (usually with a phrase or infinitive clause as the object)
I trust you have cleaned your room?

Trust

(transitive) to show confidence in a person by entrusting them with something.

Trust

(transitive) To commit, as to one's care; to entrust.

Trust

(transitive) To give credit to; to sell to upon credit, or in confidence of future payment.
Merchants and manufacturers trust their customers annually with goods.

Trust

To rely on (something), as though having trust (on it).
To trust to luck
Having lost the book, he had to trust to his memory for further details.

Trust

To risk; to venture confidently.

Trust

(intransitive) To have trust; to be credulous; to be won to confidence; to confide.

Trust

To sell or deliver anything in reliance upon a promise of payment; to give credit.

Trust

(obsolete) Secure, safe.

Trust

(obsolete) Faithful, dependable.

Trust

(legal) of or relating to a trust.

Trust

Assured resting of the mind on the integrity, veracity, justice, friendship, or other sound principle, of another person; confidence; reliance; reliance.
Most take things upon trust.

Trust

Credit given; especially, delivery of property or merchandise in reliance upon future payment; exchange without immediate receipt of an equivalent; as, to sell or buy goods on trust.

Trust

Assured anticipation; dependence upon something future or contingent, as if present or actual; hope; belief.
His trust was with the Eternal to be deemedEqual in strength.

Trust

That which is committed or intrusted to one; something received in confidence; charge; deposit.

Trust

The condition or obligation of one to whom anything is confided; responsible charge or office.
[I] serve him truly that will put me in trust.
Reward them well, if they observe their trust.

Trust

That upon which confidence is reposed; ground of reliance; hope.
O Lord God, thou art my trust from my youth.

Trust

An estate devised or granted in confidence that the devisee or grantee shall convey it, or dispose of the profits, at the will, or for the benefit, of another; an estate held for the use of another; a confidence respecting property reposed in one person, who is termed the trustee, for the benefit of another, who is called the cestui que trust.

Trust

An equitable right or interest in property distinct from the legal ownership thereof; a use (as it existed before the Statute of Uses); also, a property interest held by one person for the benefit of another. Trusts are active, or special, express, implied, constructive, etc. In a passive trust the trustee simply has title to the trust property, while its control and management are in the beneficiary.

Trust

A business organization or combination consisting of a number of firms or corporations operating, and often united, under an agreement creating a trust (in sense 1), esp. one formed mainly for the purpose of regulating the supply and price of commodities, etc.; often, opprobriously, a combination formed for the purpose of controlling or monopolizing a trade, industry, or business, by doing acts in restraint or trade; as, a sugar trust. A trust may take the form of a corporation or of a body of persons or corporations acting together by mutual arrangement, as under a contract or a so-called gentlemen's agreement. When it consists of corporations it may be effected by putting a majority of their stock either in the hands of a board of trustees (whence the name trust for the combination) or by transferring a majority to a holding company. The advantages of a trust are partly due to the economies made possible in carrying on a large business, as well as the doing away with competition. In the United States severe statutes against trusts have been passed by the Federal government and in many States, with elaborate statutory definitions.

Trust

Held in trust; as, trust property; trustmoney.

Trust

To place confidence in; to rely on, to confide, or repose faith, in; as, we can not trust those who have deceived us.
I will never trust his word after.
He that trusts every one without reserve will at last be deceived.

Trust

To give credence to; to believe; to credit.
Trust me, you look well.

Trust

To hope confidently; to believe; - usually with a phrase or infinitive clause as the object.
I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face.
We trustwe have a good conscience.

Trust

To show confidence in a person by intrusting (him) with something.
Whom, with your power and fortune, sir, you trust,Now to suspect is vain.

Trust

To commit, as to one's care; to intrust.
Merchants were not willing to trust precious cargoes to any custody but that of a man-of-war.

Trust

To give credit to; to sell to upon credit, or in confidence of future payment; as, merchants and manufacturers trust their customers annually with goods.

Trust

To risk; to venture confidently.
[Beguiled] by theeto trust thee from my side.

Trust

To have trust; to be credulous; to be won to confidence; to confide.
More to know could not be more to trust.

Trust

To be confident, as of something future; to hope.
I will trust and not be afraid.

Trust

To sell or deliver anything in reliance upon a promise of payment; to give credit.
It is happier sometimes to be cheated than not to trust.
Her widening streets on new foundations trust.
They trusted unto the liers in wait.

Trust

Something (as property) held by one party (the trustee) for the benefit of another (the beneficiary);
He is the beneficiary of a generous trust set up by his father

Trust

Certainty based on past experience;
He wrote the paper with considerable reliance on the work of other scientists
He put more trust in his own two legs than in the gun

Trust

The trait of trusting; of believing in the honesty and reliability of others;
The experience destroyed his trust and personal dignity

Trust

A consortium of independent organizations formed to limit competition by controlling the production and distribution of a product or service;
They set up the trust in the hope of gaining a monopoly

Trust

Complete confidence in a person or plan etc;
He cherished the faith of a good woman
The doctor-patient relationship is based on trust

Trust

A trustful relationship;
He took me into his confidence
He betrayed their trust

Trust

Have confidence or faith in;
We can trust in God
Rely on your friends
Bank on your good education
I swear by my grandmother's recipes

Trust

Allow without fear

Trust

Be confident about something;
I believe that he will come back from the war

Trust

Expect and wish;
I trust you will behave better from now on
I hope she understands that she cannot expect a raise

Trust

Confer a trust upon;
The messenger was entrusted with the general's secret
I commit my soul to God

Trust

Extend credit to

Trust

Belief that someone will act in a fair and responsible way.
He betrayed the trust of his team.

Common Curiosities

What can be a sign of loyalty?

Standing by someone during challenges or prioritizing their interests often indicates loyalty.

How is trust built?

Trust is built over time through consistent actions, reliability, and honesty.

Can trust be regained once broken?

While challenging, trust can be rebuilt over time with genuine remorse and consistent trustworthy actions.

Is it possible to have trust without loyalty?

Yes, one can trust someone based on their reliability but might not have a deep allegiance or loyalty to them.

How does loyalty manifest in relationships?

Loyalty in relationships manifests as steadfast support, prioritizing the relationship, and standing by during challenges.

Can loyalty exist without trust?

While uncommon, loyalty can sometimes persist even when trust has been compromised, often due to shared experiences or deep-seated affections.

Can trust be instinctual?

Yes, sometimes people trust based on gut feelings or intuition, even without prior evidence.

Can loyalty be detrimental?

Misplaced loyalty, especially to harmful individuals or causes, can be detrimental.

How can one measure trust?

Trust can be gauged by one's willingness to rely on someone without doubt, based on their past actions and character.

Is trust always based on past experiences?

While often based on past experiences, trust can also arise from intuition, reputation, or known character traits.

What can erode trust quickly?

Betrayal, lies, or inconsistency can rapidly erode trust.

Why is loyalty considered a virtue?

Loyalty is seen as a commitment and steadfastness, demonstrating one's character and integrity.

Can trust and loyalty coexist?

Yes, in many relationships, both trust and loyalty coexist, strengthening the bond between individuals.

Can loyalty change over time?

Yes, loyalty can evolve based on changing circumstances, values, or experiences.

Is loyalty always reciprocal?

Not always. One can show loyalty to someone who doesn't reciprocate it.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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