alliance

Valid in Scrabble

Scrabble points: 10
Words With Friends: 14
Letters: 8

Pronunciation

/əˈlaɪ.əns/(US)

Definition of alliance

8 senses · 2 parts of speech · etymology included

noun

(uncountable)The state of being allied.

See all 8 definitions

noun

(uncountable)The state of being allied.
(countable)The act of allying or uniting.
(countable)A union or connection of interests between families, states, parties, etc., especially between families by marriage and states by compact, treaty, or league.

“matrimonial alliances”
“an alliance between church and state, or welded by two countries”
(India, countable, dated, uncountable)A union or connection of interests between families, states, parties, etc., especially between families by marriage and states by compact, treaty, or league.
(countable)Any union resembling that of families or states; union by relationship in qualities; affinity.

“And as for kindred , there is no Alliance neerer vnto any one, than their Countrey , that is to be vnto vs another God, and our prime and deareſt Parent.”
“the alliance of the principles of the world with those of the gospel”
“the alliance […] between logic and metaphysics”
(countable, uncountable)The persons or parties allied.
(countable, dated, uncountable)Synonym of cohort (“group of orders of organisms”).

verb

(obsolete)To connect or unite by alliance; to ally.

Definitions from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.

Etymology

From Middle English alliaunce, from Old French aliance (French alliance). Equivalent to ally + -ance. Compare with Doric Greek ἁλία (halía, “assembly”). See also al-.