alignment

American  

[uh-lahyn-muhnt] / əˈlaɪn mənt /

Also alinement

noun

• alignments
  plural

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.

---

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

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• alignments
  plural

---

Etymology

Origin of alignment

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

---

Explanation

The noun alignment refers to the correct positioning of something. If you check the alignment of your feet when running, you're checking to make sure they're not pointing to either side, but going straight ahead. Alignment has to do with adjusting something so it's in the right place. If you take your car in for a wheel alignment, the mechanic will make sure the wheels are on straight. Alignment can also mean following directions or being in agreement. Your school has to act in alignment with state education rules. If you and your brother both believe that poodles should be banned in your town, then you are in alignment on the issue of poodles.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

alignment alignments

Labour ministers have been keen to sidestep talking about the impact of alignment in particular sectors, instead stressing the overall economic boost it expects the food deal to bring.

From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026

“We made alignment a central focus of GPT‑6 Cyber, using specialized training to help the model stay within authorized scope, follow restrictions on its actions, and report its work accurately.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026

"It’s really about values alignment," she said, adding that charities that court the newly rich only after their big payday risk looking transactional.

From Barron's ● Oct. 26, 2026

The problem partly stems from a long-predicted surge in peak high tides, caused by a particular alignment of the Earth, moon and sun.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 24, 2026

Some alleged calendrical devices may just possibly be due to chance—an accidental alignment of window and niche on June 21, say.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

Mr. Netanyahu has directed Israel’s diplomacy for 16 of the past 17 years, resulting in many formal and informal alignments with nations that had long been among Israel’s sworn enemies.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026

“But on any given day, financial investors are in fact oblivious to fundamental shifts in global alignments or worrying attacks on U.S. institutions,” he writes.

From Barron's ● Jan. 14, 2026

The discovery may also help refine models of intrinsic galaxy alignments, which can interfere with measurements in upcoming weak lensing surveys.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 25, 2025

Even then, the Department of Building and Safety warned that the spot widenings would lead to irregular street alignments, “thus hindering maintenance, drainage, and traffic flow,” Manville wrote in his analysis.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 26, 2024

Like consumption patterns, class alignments in politics have become jumbled.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• adjustment

---