alignment
Americannoun
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an adjustment to a line; arrangement in a straight line.
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the line or lines so formed.
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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.
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a state of agreement or cooperation among persons, groups, nations, etc., with a common cause or viewpoint.
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a ground plan of a railroad or highway.
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Archaeology. a line or an arrangement of parallel or converging lines of upright stones or menhirs.
noun
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arrangement in a straight line
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the line or lines formed in this manner
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alliance or union with a party, cause, etc
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proper or desirable coordination or relation of components
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a ground plan of a railway, motor road, etc
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archaeol an arrangement of one or more ancient rows of standing stones, of uncertain significance
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psychol integration or harmonization of aims, practices, etc within a group
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psychol identification with or matching of the behaviour, thoughts, etc of another person
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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.
Vocabulary lists containing alignment
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
By developing a geometric framework based on tensor alignment, Fang discovered that the direction of energy transfer depends on how these tensors interact.
From Science Daily • Jun. 3, 2026
The friction is striking because Trump and Netanyahu entered the war with unusual alignment.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026
An alignment between the club's three central figures: Luis Enrique, sporting director Luis Campos and president Al‑Khelaifi.
From BBC • May 29, 2026
India voiced concern on Sunday over a US visa crackdown, striking a rare critical note even as it expressed broad alignment with Secretary of State Marco Rubio on other fractious issues.
From Barron's • May 24, 2026
The ship creaked as it sailed through the Adriatic, its remaining oars still out of alignment from the giant turtle attack.
From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
