Fiduciary

adjective; noun

/fɪˈdjuːʃiˌɛri/ (RP), /fəˈduːʃiˌɛri/ (GA)

Relating to a relationship of trust in which one party (the fiduciary) is legally and ethically obligated to act in the best interest of another, such as a trustee for a beneficiary or a public servant for citizens.

✍️ Usage in a UPSC answer

A constitutional functionary such as the Comptroller and Auditor-General discharges a fiduciary obligation to the public exchequer, and any dilution of that duty of candour and care erodes the very trust on which democratic accountability rests.

Synonyms

trustee-likeentrustedcustodialin trustconfidentialtrust-based

Antonyms

self-servingfaithlessdisloyaluntrustworthy

🌱 Word Family

fiduciary (n), fiducially (adv), fidelity (n), confide (v), confidence (n)

🔡 Root

Latin fīdūciārius = held in trust; fīdūcia = trust; fīdere = to trust

📜 Etymology

From Latin fīdūciārius ("held in trust"), from fīdūcia ("trust"), from fīdere ("to trust"); first used in English in the late 1500s.

🧠 Memory Hook

Hear "FIDELity" inside fiduciary — Latin fides ("faith/trust"). A fiduciary keeps the faith, holding your interests in trust. (Same root as Fido, the ever-faithful dog.)

🧭 Ethics & Integrity 📖 Seen in: Corporate Governance, CSR, Business Et...

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