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infidelity

infidelity

79 6.9
A sexual or romantic relationship with someone who is not your partner
  • noun
  • /ˌɪnfɪˈdɛlɪti/
translation icon : infidelidad
  • Many couples seek counseling to address issues of infidelity and rebuild trust.
  • emotional infidelity
  • sexual infidelity
  • marital infidelity

Just because I condemn infidelity does not mean I condone it.

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Examples

  • Infidelity is one way to discover if you still really love your spouse.

  • This was new ground alleging some kind of infidelity on her part.

  • And there was a lot of infidelity for both of them.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • Let's talk about infidelity in committed relationships.

  • So cheating and infidelity is a very hot topic, all right.

  • Just because I condemn infidelity does not mean I condone it.

  • Long story short, she took pictures and she had evidence of his infidelity which caused their prenup to be cancelled which cost him a lot of money.

  • We've done a lot of love triangles and infidelity is a hot button topic.

  • The news of infidelity shattered their marriage and left them both heartbroken.

  • His infidelity led to a breakdown of trust in their relationship.

Synonyms

affair
vsinfidelity
  • NSFW
837 4.4

A secret sexual relationship often involving a married person and someone else

is the general term for being disloyal to a partner not only sexual cases
adultery
vsinfidelity
  • NSFW
113 5.9

Sex between a married person and someone who is not their husband or wife

covers all forms of being disloyal to a partner, not only married sexual acts
disloyalty
vsinfidelity
13 4.1

Not supporting a person, group, or cause who trusts you

is used more for breaches in personal relationships rather than group loyalty
unfaithfulness
vsinfidelity
1 6.1

Not being loyal to a partner, for example having a secret romantic or sexual relationship

applies specifically to being disloyal to a partner or duty
inconstancy
vsinfidelity
1 8.6

A tendency to change feelings or opinions and not stay loyal

focuses on changeability rather than deliberate betrayal of a partner
unfaith
vsinfidelity
  • NSFW
9.9

Having sex or a romantic relationship with someone outside your partner

includes the same idea but covers obligations beyond romantic partners
perfidiousness
vsinfidelity
  • Formal
9.9

A way of acting that is disloyal and betrays someone's trust

means disloyalty specifically in relationships or obligations rather than general treachery

Antonyms

503 1.3

Strong and lasting support for a person, group, or idea

35 4.9

Loyalty to a person, promise, or duty

How Serious

betrayal
197 3.9
infidelity
79 6.9
affair
  • NSFW
837 4.4
one-night stand
  • NSFW
36 6.3

Surface Forms

infidelity singular
infidelities plural

Morphology

infidelity = fidelity (semi-transparent) = in + fidel + ity

The prefix 'in-' clearly negates 'fidelity', but the common sense 'sexual or relational unfaithfulness' is a narrower and more specific use than the fully general meaning 'lack of fidelity'.

Etymology

The word infidelity comes from in- meaning 'not' and fidelity meaning 'faithfulness', which is like the word 'faith'. So infidelity literally means 'not faithful', and that is why it describes being unfaithful to a partner.