Allies

American  

[al-ahyz, uh-lahyz] / ˈæl aɪz, əˈlaɪz /

plural noun

1. (in World War I) the powers of the Triple Entente (Great Britain, France, Russia), with the nations allied with them (Belgium, Serbia, Japan, Italy, etc., not including the United States), or, loosely, with all the nations (including the United States) allied or associated with them as opposed to the Central Powers.

2. the 26 nations that fought against the Axis in World War II and, with subsequent additions, signed the charter of the United Nations in San Francisco in 1945.

3. the member nations of NATO.

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allies ¹ British  

/ ˈælaɪz /

noun

1. the plural of ally

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Allies ² British  

/ ˈælaɪz /

plural noun

1. (in World War I) the powers of the Triple Entente (France, Russia, and Britain) together with the nations allied with them

2. (in World War II) the countries that fought against the Axis. The main Allied powers were Britain and the Commonwealth countries, the US, the Soviet Union, France, China, and Poland See also Axis

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Allies Cultural  

1. The victorious allied nations of World War I and World War II. In World War I, the Allies included Britain, France, Italy, Russia, and the United States. In World War II, the Allies included Britain, France, the Soviet Union, and the United States.

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Etymology

Origin of Allies

Plural of ally

Compare meaning

How does allies compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Allies vs. Central Powers

Example Sentences

Allies framed the strikes as a law-enforcement action rather than an act of war.

From Salon

To support the Eastern Front, the Allies sent convoys to Russia through waters so frigid men could freeze to death in five minutes if they fell in.

From The Wall Street Journal

While the horrors of war at sea are well-known, the Allies’ ill-fated supply convoys from Iceland to Russia are an often-overlooked theater of the war.

From The Wall Street Journal

Found by the Allies in the salt mine at Bad-Aussee, they were returned to Czech authorities at the end of the war, only to be appropriated by the state during the Communist era.

From The Wall Street Journal

"Jeff understands how essential Greenland is to our National Security, and will strongly advance our Country's Interests for the Safety, Security, and Survival of our Allies, and indeed, the World. Congratulations Jeff!"

From Barron's

Related Words

• associate
• colleague
• friend
• partner