• TitanLaGrange@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    No, I agree that allegiance is a behavioral motivator, but I think it is distinct from loyalty and that people tend to conflate the concepts (similar to how people sometimes conflate or confuse infer/imply and borrow/lend).

    Loyalty, a behavior, can be observed; allegiance, a commitment (maybe supported by emotion, maybe not), cannot.

    • CaptObvious@literature.cafe
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      10 months ago

      Allegiance and loyalty are synonyms. Both are nouns. They are defined in terms of each other:

      loyalty
      Word forms: plural loyalties
      uncountable noun
      Loyalty is the quality of staying firm in your friendship or support for someone or something.
      I have sworn an oath of loyalty to the monarchy. [+ to]
      This is seen as a reward for the army’s loyalty during a barracks revolt earlier this month.

      Synonyms: faithfulness, commitment, devotion, allegiance

      allegiance
      Word forms: plural allegiances
      variable noun
      Your allegiance is your support for and loyalty to a particular group, person, or belief.
      My allegiance to Kendall and his company ran deep. [+ to]
      …a community driven by strong ties and allegiances.

      Synonyms: loyalty, duty, obligation, devotion

      --Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers