steadfast

Steadfast is an adjective used to describe someone who is firmly committed to a belief, cause, or duty and who remains loyal, determined, and unwavering even under pressure. The term can apply to a person’s character, a stance on an issue, or a course of action that is pursued with consistency. It can also describe objects or positions that are fixed or securely established.

The word derives from Old English stedfast, from sted “stead, place” and fast “fixed, secure.” The sense of firmness in position or purpose has persisted into modern English; steadfastness was formed to refer to the quality itself.

Steadfast is commonly used in religious, military, or political contexts as well as in everyday language. It connotes reliability and endurance, often in the face of doubt or difficulty. The adverb steadfastly expresses the manner of perseverance.

In literature and rhetoric, steadfastness is praised as virtue; it contrasts with fickleness. Notable phrases include steadfast in his resolve and steadfast as a rock, which illustrate the typical associations of unwavering loyalty and resolve.

Related terms include steadfastness and steadfastly; antonyms include fickle, wavering, and capricious. The concept is cross-cultural and appears in moral and historical discussions about resilience and loyalty.