alignment
[uh-lahyn-muh nt]
- an adjustment to a line; arrangement in a straight line.
- the line or lines so formed.
- the proper adjustment of the components of an electronic circuit, machine, etc., for coordinated functioning: The front wheels of the car are out of alignment.
- a state of agreement or cooperation among persons, groups, nations, etc., with a common cause or viewpoint.
- a ground plan of a railroad or highway.
- Archaeology. a line or an arrangement of parallel or converging lines of upright stones or menhirs.
Also a·line·ment.
Origin of alignment
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for realignment
Contemporary Examples
How he was hoping to do a grand Wilsonian realignment of great powers.
After all, despite years of PR and realignment, the ACC is still a basketball conference.
She also points to cultural shifts, a new “anti-stuff mentality,” in her words, “a realignment of our societal priorities.”
Will a new overstep such as voluntary default be the impetus for realignment between the parties?
Here's Something Debt Ceiling Obstinance May Create: A New Bipartisan EraJustin Green
January 14, 2013
His one reform in this area—known as “realignment”—has returned some authority to local governments on law-enforcement issues.
Historical Examples
To this succeeded the classification and realignment of the concrete data thus obtained.
Railroads: Rates and RegulationsWilliam Z. Ripley
realignment
- the act or instance of restoring or changing to a previous or different position
alignment
- arrangement in a straight line
- the line or lines formed in this manner
- alliance or union with a party, cause, etc
- proper or desirable coordination or relation of components
- a ground plan of a railway, motor road, etc
- archaeol an arrangement of one or more ancient rows of standing stones, of uncertain significance
- psychol integration or harmonization of aims, practices, etc within a group
- psychol identification with or matching of the behaviour, thoughts, etc of another person
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for realignment
alignment
n.
1790, "arrangement in a line," from French alignement, from aligner (see align). Political sense is from 1933.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper