noun
Usage
What does allegiance mean? Allegiance is loyalty or faithfulness, especially to a person or cause. Allegiance usually refers to a loyalty that is considered extremely important, such as to a country or leader. If you went to school in the United States, you’re familiar with the Pledge of Allegiance, which is an oath of loyalty to the country recited by schoolchildren and at patriotic ceremonies. This type of formal loyalty is what’s implied by allegiance. The adjective form of allegiance is allegiant. Example: Her supporters’ allegiance never lessened, even in the aftermath of the scandal.
Synonym Usage
See loyalty.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of allegiance
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English aliegiaunce, equivalent to a- probably a- 5 + liege liege + -aunce -ance; compare Middle French ligeance
Explanation
Every second grader knows how to pledge allegiance to the flag, but do you think they realize when they place their right hand over their hearts that they're expressing loyalty to what we call the "Red, White, and Blue"? You can pledge your allegiance to a flag or swear your allegiance to a government or cause. Either way you're expressing your commitment and devotion in the firmest sense of the word. The liege in allegiance comes from the Old French word meaning "lord and master," which is who you would have been swearing your allegiance to if you'd been a servant in France centuries ago.
Vocabulary lists containing allegiance
100 SAT Words Beginning with "A"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"The Crucible" -- Vocabulary from all 4 Acts
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Donald Trump Inauguration Address- January 20, 2017
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
Before Sept. 11 became an argument about war, security, patriotism or political allegiance, it was an encounter with human vulnerability and then human resilience.
From Salon ● Sep. 8, 2026
Dating a drummer, she switched allegiance from Whitney Houston to Tom Waits and Tori Amos, but the urge to sing remained.
From BBC ● Sep. 6, 2026
Sweden also summoned the Russian ambassador in Stockholm over the incident, its Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson told a news conference, citing its allegiance to Germany and Ukraine.
From Barron's ● Sep. 1, 2026
He grumbled that his allegiance cost him professionally, but the University of London employed him consistently from 1947 onward.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
In later years, I would tease her about this early allegiance, telling her that had she not met me, she would have married a leader of the NEUM.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
But for all their diverging allegiances, tribal relatives remained reluctant to kill one another.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
Having represented Italy at youth level, he switched allegiances to Australia in May just before the Socceroos announced their squad for the tournament.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
Born in France, Wahi switched allegiances to the African nation in March and started in the Ivory Coast's opening 1-0 World Cup Group E victory over Ecuador on Sunday.
From Barron's ● Jun. 18, 2026
Privately, their officials already talk about diversifying their allegiances, and about the necessity of finding ways to live alongside Iran, its neighbour across the water.
From BBC ● Jun. 15, 2026
No matter how hard he tried, he never developed any imperishable allegiances to the washed-out, bloodless Marine bases where he had lived for most of his seventeen years.
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
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.
