alliance

noun

al·​li·​ance ə-ˈlī-ən(t)s 

1

a

: the state of being allied : the action of allying

nations in close alliance

b

: a bond or connection between families, states, parties, or individuals

a closer alliance between government and industry

2

: an association to further the common interests of the members

specifically : a confederation of nations by treaty

the alliance of Western nations

3

: union by relationship in qualities : affinity

an alliance of industry and academia

4

: a treaty of alliance

Synonyms of alliance

• treaty
• pact

Examples of alliance in a Sentence

We need to form a closer alliance between government and industry.

strengthen the alliance of western nations

There has been a pattern of shifting alliances in the political world.

The article condemns what some say is an unholy alliance between government and media.

one nation working in alliance with another

There is disagreement within the alliance about how to deal with this problem.

Recent Examples on the Web

Disagreements over how to resolve the problem created a political crisis that ended an alliance between leading figures in the government that came to power in 2024. — Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 7 Sep. 2026

However, an alliance of any kind between those parties is improbable and would be prone to instability. — ABC News, 7 Sep. 2026

Trump also has been highly critical of NATO, arguing that European countries aren’t spending enough money on the military and thus aren’t paying their fair share of the alliance’s mutual defense. — Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026

Yet there is no pan-European alliance of the far right, in part because these parties champion their own national interests. — Erik Kirschbaum, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for alliance

• science
• appliance
• compliance
• defiance
• reliance
• geoscience
• neuroscience
• noncompliance
• pseudoscience

Kids Definition

alliance

noun

al·​li·​ance ə-ˈlī-ən(t)s 

1

: the state of being allied

2

a

: a union between persons, families, or parties

b

: a union between nations for assistance and protection

3

: a treaty of alliance

Geographical Definition

Alliance

geographical name

Al·​li·​ance ə-ˈlī-ən(t)s 

city in northeastern Ohio northeast of Canton