alliance Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the state of being allied or confederated
    confederation.
  2. noun a connection based on kinship or marriage or common interest
    bond.
    • the shifting alliances within a large family
    • their friendship constitutes a powerful bond between them
  3. noun an organization of people (or countries) involved in a pact or treaty
    alinement; coalition; alignment.
  4. noun a formal agreement establishing an association or alliance between nations or other groups to achieve a particular aim
  5. noun the act of forming an alliance or confederation
    confederation.

WordNet


Al*li"ance noun
Etymology
OE. aliaunce, OF. aliance, F. alliance, fr. OF. alier, F. allier. See Ally, and cf. LL. alligantia.
Definitions
  1. The state of being allied; the act of allying or uniting; a union or connection of interests between families, states, parties, etc., especially between families by marriage and states by compact, treaty, or league; as, matrimonial alliances; an alliance between church and state; an alliance between France and England.
  2. Any union resembling that of families or states; union by relationship in qualities; affinity.
    The alliance of the principles of the world with those of the gospel. C. J. Smith.
    The alliance . . . between logic and metaphysics. Mansel.
  3. The persons or parties allied. Udall. Syn. -- Connection; affinity; union; confederacy; confederation; league; coalition.
Al*li"ance transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To connect by alliance; to ally. Obs.

Webster 1913