Alabama
American Library Association
ˌä-(ˌ)lä 
ˌä-lə,
ˌa-lə
variants
or less commonly a la
: in the manner of
speaking with a passion à la Martin Luther King, Jr.
Examples of ala in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
In another era, Pratt would have been a welcome edition to the roster of bombastic Southern California preachers a la Aimee Semple McPherson, Chuck Smith and Gene Scott, as well as radio titans such as George Putnam and John Kobylt.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026
The Knicks often use Karl-Anthony Towns as a facilitator out of the post a la Draymond Green, while the Cavaliers often have Donovan Mitchell play large swaths of the game off-ball, a move Golden State has used with Steph Curry.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 18 May 2026
What to get: The star of the show and a national dish of Peru: the pollo a la brasa grilled on a Big Green Egg.
—Sam Flemming, AJC.com, 14 May 2026
Raye and her two backing vocalists are doing choreographed dance moves a la the Motown training school.
—Peter Larsen, Daily News, 13 May 2026
That was when Machado started laughing after reliever Jason Adam walked onto the field in a T-shirt with cut off sleeves and cut off below the chest, a la Tatis.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2026
Kravitz’s updo, which features pieces of hair escaping a la Wuthering Heights.
—Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 4 May 2026
At this cheffy Columbia bistro, Mother’s Day will entail a live jazz brunch with a la carte menu options such as mini beignets, pimento-cheese croque madames and lobster quiches.
—Jane Godiner, Baltimore Sun, 29 Apr. 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Preposition
An a la carte breakfast with everything from avocado on toast, eggs done all ways, and fluffy wattleseed pancakes is followed by long multi-course lunches.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
In another era, Pratt would have been a welcome edition to the roster of bombastic Southern California preachers a la Aimee Semple McPherson, Chuck Smith and Gene Scott, as well as radio titans such as George Putnam and John Kobylt.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026
The Knicks often use Karl-Anthony Towns as a facilitator out of the post a la Draymond Green, while the Cavaliers often have Donovan Mitchell play large swaths of the game off-ball, a move Golden State has used with Steph Curry.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 18 May 2026
What to get: The star of the show and a national dish of Peru: the pollo a la brasa grilled on a Big Green Egg.
—Sam Flemming, AJC.com, 14 May 2026
Raye and her two backing vocalists are doing choreographed dance moves a la the Motown training school.
—Peter Larsen, Daily News, 13 May 2026
That was when Machado started laughing after reliever Jason Adam walked onto the field in a T-shirt with cut off sleeves and cut off below the chest, a la Tatis.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2026
Kravitz’s updo, which features pieces of hair escaping a la Wuthering Heights.
—Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 4 May 2026
At this cheffy Columbia bistro, Mother’s Day will entail a live jazz brunch with a la carte menu options such as mini beignets, pimento-cheese croque madames and lobster quiches.
—Jane Godiner, Baltimore Sun, 29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ala.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ala. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
Ala
2 of 3 abbreviation
alanine; alanyl
ALA
3 of 3 abbreviationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
