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.

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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

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

The shadow cast by the alignment of Sun and Moon creates a strange twilight during which temperatures drop, shadows appear at strange angles and some animals go to sleep.

From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026

Inside Fifa, the expectation is that Infantino has called the meeting in Rabat in an attempt to clear the air, have a show of unity and try to achieve some alignment with his senior staff.

From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026

Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother’ feels very much in alignment with the type of work I want to be known for.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026

The board wouldn’t have voted to close without alignment from their biggest funder, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 1, 2026

“I’m just pointing out that your construct has gotten out of alignment with reality.”

From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman

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

"On the contrary, we need a multilateralism that is more deeply rooted in the people and not just in governments, biases or economic lobbying. We need new alignments, new alliances."

From Barron's ● Apr. 27, 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

The exact alignments and deals are impossible to predict, and much will depend on the individuals appointed to key positions.

From BBC ● Nov. 13, 2024

The hands glide to indicate the proper time, the planetary alignments set themselves in order.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

Related Words

• adjustment