allegiance

[ uh-lee-juhns ]
/ əˈli dʒəns /

noun

the loyalty of a citizen to his or her government or of a subject to his or her sovereign.
loyalty or devotion to some person, group, cause, or the like.

QUIZZES

CAN YOU FEEL THE WEAL WITH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ?

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weal
well-being, prosperity, or happiness.
the intervening time.
a somewhat prolonged, sharp, shrill cry, as of pain, fear, or surprise.
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Origin of allegiance

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

SYNONYMS FOR allegiance

See loyalty.

ANTONYMS FOR allegiance

1 treason.
2 treachery.

OTHER WORDS FROM allegiance

non·al·le·giance, nouno·ver·al·le·giance, noun

Words nearby allegiance

allegedly, allegheny, allegheny barberry, allegheny mountains, allegheny spurge, allegiance, allegiant, allegorical, allegorist, allegoristic, allegorize
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to allegiances

fealty, faithfulness, homage, obedience, dedication, adherence, deference, fidelity, obligation, devotion, duty, constancy, piety, ardor, consecration, honor

Example sentences from the Web for allegiances

British Dictionary definitions for allegiances

allegiance
/ (əˈliːdʒəns) /

noun

loyalty, as of a subject to his sovereign or of a citizen to his country
(in feudal society) the obligations of a vassal to his liege lordSee also fealty, homage (def. 2)

Word Origin for allegiance

C14: from Old French ligeance, from lige liege
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012