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"
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"The Crucible" -- Vocabulary from all 4 Acts
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Donald Trump Inauguration Address- January 20, 2017
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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.
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
The winger was born in France and represented Les Bleus at youth level, but switched international allegiance to Senegal in 2025 after qualifying through his father.
From BBC ● Sep. 1, 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
In addition, Mr. Warsh introduced a new form of forward guidance, repeatedly pledging allegiance to the 2% inflation target.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
“I calculated that I had sworn my allegiance to king, Mussolini, party, constitutions, and institutions at least fifteen times.”
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
Top lawyers have been switching allegiances at an unprecedented pace.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 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
But this might be more about personal allegiances than ideological nuances.
From BBC ● Jun. 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
Initial allegiances shifted as the war went on, but in the end, all six of the Iroquois nations were seen as a threat to the separatists.
From "An Indigenous People’s History of the United States" by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
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.
