alliance
a union of countries or groups for mutual benefit
In more detail
1. (noun) an agreement between countries, groups, or people to work together for a shared purpose
2. (noun) the countries, groups, or people joined together by such an agreement
Examples
- 1. The two nations formed a military alliance to defend against their common enemy.
- 2. The alliance between the environmental organizations has made their campaigns more effective.
How to use alliance
Alliance refers to a formal or deliberate agreement between parties to cooperate, often for mutual benefit or protection. It emphasizes the commitment and shared interests binding the parties together, and is commonly used in political, military, and business contexts. Unlike partnership, which can be more informal or commercial, alliance often carries stronger diplomatic or strategic weight.
Common phrases
- form an alliance
- enter into an alliance
- break an alliance
- strategic alliance
- military alliance
- alliance with
Synonyms
partnership · coalition · union · league · bloc
Opposites
rivalry · opposition · enmity
Word family
ally (noun/verb) · allied (adjective)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse alliance with alignment; alignment means positioning in agreement with something, while alliance involves an actual formal agreement or union.
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