allegiance

noun

al·​le·​giance ə-ˈlē-jən(t)s 

plural allegiances

1

a

: the obligation of a feudal vassal to a liege lord

b

: the fidelity owed by a subject, citizen, or noncitizen resident to a sovereign or government

We pledge allegiance to our country.

2

: devotion or loyalty to a person, group, or cause

allegiance to a political party

allegiant

ə-ˈlē-jənt 

adjective

Synonyms of allegiance

• loyalty
• commitment
• dedication
• devotion
• fidelity

Choose the Right Synonym for allegiance

fidelity, allegiance, fealty, loyalty, devotion, piety mean faithfulness to something to which one is bound by pledge or duty.

fidelity implies strict and continuing faithfulness to an obligation, trust, or duty.

marital fidelity

allegiance suggests an adherence like that of citizens to their country.

pledging allegiance

fealty implies a fidelity acknowledged by the individual and as compelling as a sworn vow.

fealty to the truth

loyalty implies a faithfulness that is steadfast in the face of any temptation to renounce, desert, or betray.

valued the loyalty of his friends

devotion stresses zeal and service amounting to self-dedication.

a painter's devotion to her art

piety stresses fidelity to obligations regarded as natural and fundamental.

filial piety

Examples of allegiance in a Sentence

He owes allegiance to them for all the help they have given him.

Both candidates are working hard to convince voters to switch allegiances.

Recent Examples on the Web

Samodelkina, who turns 19 on Wednesday, was born in Moscow and was fifth in the 2022 Russian Championships before switching her allegiance to her mother’s native Kazakhstan in May 2024. —Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 17 Feb. 2026

Vienna public prosecutors said in a statement that the unnamed defendant had declared allegiance to the Islamic State group by sharing propaganda material and videos via various messaging services. —ABC News, 16 Feb. 2026

Back-to-back wins for her birth country of Canada in the two-woman event in 2010 and 2014, plus another gold, after a contentious, stressful battle to switch national allegiances, for the United States, in the inaugural driver-only monobob event in Beijing. —Sean Gregory, Time, 14 Feb. 2026

Pinheiro Braathen switched allegiance to his mother's nation of birth in 2024 after splitting from Norway's ski program. —Sean Nevin, NBC news, 14 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English aligeaunce, borrowed from Anglo-French alleggeance, alter. (by addition of the verbal prefix a-, going back to Latin ad- ad-) of ligeance, from lige, liege liege entry 1 + -ance -ance

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

allegiance

noun

al·​le·​giance ə-ˈlē-jən(t)s 

1

: loyalty and obedience owed to one's country or government

2

: devotion or loyalty to a person, group, or cause