unfaithful

Everyday

1. Unfaithful means not loyal; breaking a promise or letting down someone who trusted you. tree →
2. A husband, wife or partner is called unfaithful when they secretly start a love relationship with someone else, which breaks their promise to each other. tree →
3. (formal) An unfaithful copy or translation does not match the original exactly. tree →

In the lessons

In stories, the Bible and old tales it marks betrayal: an unfaithful servant, an unfaithful friend. In family life seen by a child, it can be a reason why grown-ups split up; it is a grown-up matter and never the child's fault. In church talk: the Bible praises faithfulness and calls breaking promises to God unfaithful.

Examples

• The unfaithful servant ran off with his master's money. tree →
• The king's unfaithful advisor sold secrets to the enemy. tree →
• In the parable, the unfaithful worker hid his money instead of using it. tree →
• Their parents split up because one of them had been unfaithful. tree →
• The film was an unfaithful version of the book – it changed the ending. tree →
• A dog is never unfaithful to its owner. tree →
• I will not be unfaithful to my father's vow. tree →

Note

Opposite: «faithful». The noun is «unfaithfulness» or «infidelity». When grown-ups split up, it is never the children's fault.

In Jewish tradition

Proverbs says trusting a disloyal person in trouble is as useless and painful as a broken tooth.

Interpretation. It is read as a warning to be careful whom we trust, and to be a loyal friend ourselves.

Examples

• Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint. (Writings PRO.25.19, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Opposite: «faithful». The noun is «unfaithfulness» or «infidelity». When grown-ups split up, it is never the children's fault.