allegiance

[uh-lee-juhns]

noun

1. the loyalty of a citizen to their government or of a subject to their sovereign.

   Antonyms: treason

2. loyalty or devotion to some person, group, cause, or the like.

   Antonyms: treachery

allegiance

/ əˈliːdʒəns /

noun

1. loyalty, as of a subject to his sovereign or of a citizen to his country

2. (in feudal society) the obligations of a vassal to his liege lord See also fealty homage

Other Word Forms

• nonallegiance noun
• overallegiance noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of allegiance¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English aliegiaunce, equivalent to a- probably a- ⁵ + liege liege + -aunce -ance; compare Middle French ligeance

Word History and Origins

Origin of allegiance¹

C14: from Old French ligeance, from lige _liege

Synonym Study

See loyalty.

Example Sentences

They would also send a potent physical message to Putin about America's shifting allegiances.

Read more on BBC

The 26-year-old had previously switched her allegiances to Jamaica but has not represented them in a competitive fixture and is therefore eligible for the Lionesses.

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The 23-year-old, who has three goals in nine matches for Marseille this term, had started the process of changing his allegiance to Jamaica.

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Faced with impending war in the 1930s, however, scientific internationalism fragmented, with physicists reverting to their national allegiances.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“No other minority is being asked to choose between allegiances. This boycott absolutely smacks of something else, and it’s called antisemitism.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• adherence 
• dedication 
• deference 
• devotion 
• faithfulness 
• fealty 
• fidelity 
• homage 
• obedience 
• obligation 

When To Use

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.