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

Their alliance seemed to fade when Mamdani rebuffed Lander’s reported interest in a top City Hall job, but Lander quickly shifted his focus to the NY-10 race. —Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 23 May 2026

The fallout matters because American power has historically depended not only on military strength or economic leverage, but on the cohesion of the Western alliance and European support of Washington’s foreign policy. —Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026

Rutte said Friday that many of the alliance's 32 members were accelerating the path to the 5% spending commitment. —Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 22 May 2026

Some experts say that there could be benefits to this unlikely alliance. —Bella Webb, Vogue, 22 May 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 population 22,322