alignment

American  

[uh-lahyn-muhnt] / əˈlaɪn mənt /

Also alinement

noun

1. an adjustment to a line; arrangement in a straight line.

2. the line or lines so formed.

3. 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.

4. a state of agreement or cooperation among persons, groups, nations, etc., with a common cause or viewpoint.

5. a ground plan of a railroad or highway.

6. Archaeology. a line or an arrangement of parallel or converging lines of upright stones or menhirs.

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alignment British  

/ əˈlaɪnmənt /

noun

1. arrangement in a straight line

2. the line or lines formed in this manner

3. alliance or union with a party, cause, etc

4. proper or desirable coordination or relation of components

5. a ground plan of a railway, motor road, etc

6. archaeol an arrangement of one or more ancient rows of standing stones, of uncertain significance

7. psychol integration or harmonization of aims, practices, etc within a group

8. psychol identification with or matching of the behaviour, thoughts, etc of another person

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Other Word Forms

• nonalinement noun
• realignment noun
• self-alignment noun
• self-alinement noun

Etymology

Origin of alignment

First recorded in 1780–90; align + -ment; replacing earlier alignement, from French

Example Sentences

The alignment of the planets for the quickest trip only comes around about every 26 months.

From The Wall Street Journal

Scotland officials make the alignment and communication between Gregor Townsend's senior side, national second-string and age-grade teams and the country's two professional outfits a selling point to prospects.

From BBC

On his website, Leike writes that his research focuses on solving the “hard problem of alignment.”

From MarketWatch

The government has said it wants to bring those numbers into alignment.

From Barron's

But as long as the alignment persists, Israeli regional diplomacy will struggle to advance the integration of the world’s only Jewish state into the Middle East.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• adjustment