alignment

noun align·ment \ ə-ˈlīn-mənt \

variants: or less commonly alinement

Updated on: 12 Apr 2018

Definition of alignment

1 : the act of aligning or state of being aligned; especially : the proper positioning or state of adjustment of parts (as of a mechanical or electronic device) in relation to each other

2 a : a forming in line

b : the line thus formed

3 : the ground plan (as of a railroad or highway) in distinction from the profile

4 : an arrangement of groups or forces in relation to one another

new alignments within the political party

See alignment defined for English-language learners

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Examples of alignment in a Sentence

The school has to bring its programs into alignment with state requirements.
New alignments have been created within the political party.

Recent Examples of alignment from the Web

For the second straight game, the Phillies were burned by a defensive alignment driven by analytics.

— matt breen, Philly.com, "Phillies fall to Mets; Gabe Kapler's defensive alignment of Nick Williams backfires," 4 Apr. 2018
That alignment left the entire left side of the infield unoccupied and undefended for any ground ball.

— jeff wilson, star-telegram, "Getting swing in sync or bunting for hits? Rangers have answer for Gallo vs. Astros' shift | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 30 Mar. 2018
For the Giants, Buster Posey suddenly is flanked by McCutchen and Longoria, a 3-4-5 alignment that appears an upgrade but got off to a slow start against Kershaw and Co., going 1-for-10 with five strikeouts, three by Longoria.

— john shea, San Francisco Chronicle, "New-look lineups for Giants, A’s do just enough in openers," 29 Mar. 2018
The body is muscular and lithe, but his pose — one foot straight ahead of the other in rigid, physically impossible alignment below a strictly upright and frontal torso — creates an authoritative spectacle of resolute, unshakable strength.

— christopher knight, latimes.com, "How good is the King Tut exhibition? An art critic weighs in," 29 Mar. 2018
As old alignments break apart, the Iraqi National Alliance, which grouped the main Shia parties, has split into its constituent parts.

— The Economist, "Fifteen years after America’s invasion, Iraq is getting back on its feet," 28 Mar. 2018
That shakeup was announced on the heels of the diplomatic breakthrough, and senior administration officials attributed the change to Trump's closer alignment with Pompeo on the issue.

— kevin liptak and jeremy diamond, CNN, "Surprise meetings and potential pitfalls. Trump preps for North Korea.," 28 Mar. 2018
Light, Shadow, and Sacrifice But sometimes, simply marking astronomical alignments isn’t enough; another ancient method of tracing the sun’s meanderings through the sky involves using light and shadow to paint particular images.

— National Geographic, "Vernal Equinox 2018: Facts About the First Day of Spring," 20 Mar. 2018
Tillerson's tenure at the State Department has, by all accounts, been undermined by his lack of rapport and policy alignment with President Donald Trump .

— chicagotribune.com, "Rex Tillerson proves CEOs are DOA in Washington," 13 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'alignment.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of alignment

1742

Other Mechanical Engineering Terms

centrifuge, differential, flange, lathe, linchpin, pinion, plenum, ratchet, traction

ALIGNMENT Defined for Kids

alignment

noun align·ment \ ə-ˈlīn-mənt \

Definition of alignment for Students

: the state of being arranged in a line or in proper position

The machine was not working properly because its parts were out of alignment.

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See words that rhyme with alignment Spanish Central: Translation of alignment Nglish: Translation of alignment for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of alignment for Arabic speakers

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alignment

Definition of alignment

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ALIGNMENT Defined for Kids

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