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View synonyms for

alliance

1

[ uh-lahy-uhns ]

noun

  1. the act of allying or state of being allied.

    Synonyms: , , , , ,

  2. a formal agreement or treaty between two or more nations to cooperate for specific purposes.

    Synonyms: ,

  3. a merging of efforts or interests by persons, families, states, or organizations:

    an alliance between church and state.

  4. the persons or entities so allied.
  5. marriage or the relationship created by marriage between the families of the spouses.
  6. correspondence in basic characteristics; affinity:

    the alliance between logic and metaphysics.



Alliance

2

[ uh-lahy-uhns ]

noun

  1. a city in NE Ohio.

Alliance

1

/ əˈɪəԲ /

noun

    1. the Social Democratic Party and the Liberal Party acting or regarded as a political entity from 1981 to 1988
    2. ( as modifier )

      an Alliance candidate

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

alliance

2

/ əˈɪəԲ /

noun

  1. the act of allying or state of being allied; union; confederation
  2. a formal agreement or pact, esp a military one, between two or more countries to achieve a particular aim
  3. the countries involved in such an agreement
  4. a union between families through marriage
  5. affinity or correspondence in qualities or characteristics
  6. botany a taxonomic category consisting of a group of related families; subclass
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • t··aԳ noun adjective
  • ԴDza·aԳ noun
  • a·aԳ noun
  • a·aԳ adjective
  • a·aԳ noun
  • ܲa·aԳ noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of alliance1

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English aliance, from Old French; equivalent to ally + -ance
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Word History and Origins

Origin of alliance1

C13: from Old French aliance, from alier to ally
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Synonym Study

Alliance, confederation, league, union all mean the joining of states for mutual benefit or to permit the joint exercise of functions. An alliance may apply to any connection entered into for mutual benefit. League usually suggests closer combination or a more definite object or purpose. Confederation applies to a permanent combination for the exercise in common of certain governmental functions. Union implies an alliance so close and permanent that the separate states or parties become essentially one.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The lobbying effort has led to unusual alliances, particularly in the wake of the strikes, with both studios and Hollywood unions rallying on the same side.

From

Lithuania - a member of the Nato military alliance - also shares a border with Kaliningrad, a heavily militarised Russian exclave on the Black Sea.

From

Those scenes got scrapped, so Luke’s first conversations about the rebel alliance would have to wait until deeper into the movie.

From

Representatives for Heartland and the Sequoia Grove alliance did not respond to requests for comment.

From

The Trump and his administration are withdrawing the country from its long-standing alliances, and generally remaking its relationship to the world in terms of trade and money.

From

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More About Alliance

is an alliance?

An alliance is the act or state of being in a mutually beneficial relationship to work toward a common goal, as in The United States’ longest alliance is with France. 

Often, alliance refers to a formal agreement between nations that promise to assist each other in war, as in Germany, Italy, and Japan agreed on an alliance during World War II. 

Alliance can also be used more generally to refer to the people or groups that come together in a common cause, as in The invading orcs were defeated by an alliance of men, elves, and dwarves. 

Alliance is similar to words such as confederation, union, and league, which also refer to beneficial partnerships. Alliance is used more generally than these words, however.

Example: The kids at my school formed an alliance to stop the bully from harassing us. 

Where does alliance come from?

The first records of the word alliance come from around 1250. It ultimately comes through the Old French alier, meaning “to ally.” An alliance is created when multiple groups or people decide to ally (join in partnership) with each other.

You have probably seen the word alliance used in history books, especially when learning about wars. Throughout history, nations have repeatedly formed alliances to avoid war or to help defend each other from a larger, more powerful threat. Both World War I and World War II involved alliances between a significant number of nations. In fact, World War I only escalated as badly as it did thanks to a complex web of alliances that forced many different countries into the conflict.

Did you know … ?

are some other forms related to alliance?

  • interalliance (noun, adjective)
  • nonalliance (noun)
  • prealliance (noun)
  • proalliance (adjective)

are some synonyms for alliance?

are some words that share a root or word element with alliance?

are some words that often get used in discussing alliance?

How is alliance used in real life?

Alliance is a word used to refer to partnerships or different parties working together toward a common goal.

Try using alliance!

True or False?

An alliance is a cooperative partnership where multiple parties work toward a common cause.

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