From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishloyalistloy‧al‧ist /ˈlɔɪəlɪst/ noun [countable] 1 PPGsomeone who continues to support a government or country, especially during a period of change2 → Loyalist —loyalist adjective
Examples from the Corpus
loyalist• Paisley was developing a distinctive political position which stressed the religious element in the conflict between nationalist and loyalist.• During a meeting at the Diamond police restrained attempts by loyalist and Catholic youths to break through their fines.• In June 1969 a proposed Connolly commemoration parade through Belfast city centre was bitterly opposed by loyalists.• But his good loyalist credentials could not save him when he departed from the narrow path.• In response to demands for figures of loyalists arrested, the police first announced that 130 nationalists and seventy-five loyalists were arrested.• He would be revered for his ability to balance the party loyalists and the independent voters.• Protestant loyalists dominated the statelet from its formation.LoyalistLoyalistsomeone from Northern Ireland who believes that Northern Ireland should remain part of the United Kingdom, and not become part of the Republic of Ireland → Republican → loyalistLoyalistLoyalist noun 1 a Protestant in Northern Ireland who believes that it should remain part of the UK. The people who want Northern Ireland to become part of the Republic of Ireland are called ‘Republicans’ or ‘Nationalists’.2 someone who was loyal to the royal family during the English Civil War3 someone who supported the elected government during the Spanish Civil War4 someone who fought with the British during the American Revolutionary War5 someone who supported the Union during the American Civil War —Loyalist adjective the Loyalist flag/anthem 