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

Europe’s defense sector has seen a meteoric rise this year, amid the Ukraine war and commitments from regional governments and the NATO military alliance to ramp up defense spending. —Chloe Taylor,greg Kennedy, CNBC, 16 Dec. 2025

Russia has long rebuffed Ukraine’s public advocacy for NATO membership, arguing that the Western alliance, which is a defensive alliance, is moving too far east. —Mike Brest, The Washington Examiner, 15 Dec. 2025

New alliances supporting whistleblowers The whistleblowers whose stories appear in our book did more than expose wrongdoing. —Kate Kenny, The Conversation, 15 Dec. 2025

The Kremlin has demanded that Ukraine renounce the bid for membership in the alliance as part of any prospective peace settlement. —Arkansas Online, 15 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for alliance

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

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