ally

¹ American  

[uh-lahy, al-ahy, uh-lahy] / əˈlaɪ, ˈæl aɪ, əˈlaɪ /

verb (used with object)

allied, allying

1. to unite formally, as by treaty, league, marriage, or the like (usually followed by with orto ).

   Russia allied itself to France.

   Synonyms:

   wed, wed, combine, join, join, unify

2. to associate or connect by some mutual relationship, as resemblance or friendship.

---

verb (used without object)

allied, allying

1. to enter into an alliance; join; unite.

noun

plural

allies

1. a person, group, or nation that is associated with another or others for some common cause or purpose.

   Canada and the United States were allies in World War II.

   Synonyms:

   confederate, partner

   Antonyms:

   adversary, foe, enemy

2. Biology. a plant, animal, or other organism bearing an evolutionary relationship to another, often as a member of the same family.

   The squash is an ally of the watermelon.

3. a person who associates or cooperates with another; supporter.

   Synonyms:

   helper, assistant, auxiliary, coadjutor, colleague, abettor, accessory, accomplice, aide, friend

   Antonyms:

   adversary, foe, enemy

4. a person who advocates for or supports a marginalized or politicized group but is not a member of the group: As a man, how can I be a good ally to women in the struggle for gender equality?

   Straight allies speak up for the LGBTQ community.

   As a man, how can I be a good ally to women in the struggle for gender equality?

-ally ² American  

1. an adverbial suffix attached to certain adjectives with stems in -ic that have no forms ending in -ical: terrifically.

---

ally British  

verb

1. to unite or be united, esp formally, as by treaty, confederation, or marriage

2. (tr; usually passive) to connect or be related, as through being similar or compatible

---

noun

1. a country, person, or group allied with another

2. a plant, animal, substance, etc, closely related to another in characteristics or form

Usage

What else does ally mean? An ally is someone that aligns with and supports a cause with another individual or group of people. A straight ally, more specifically, is an individual outside of the LGBTQ community that supports their fight for equality and rights.

Other Word Forms

• alliable adjective
• preally noun

Etymology

Origin of ally¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English alien, from Anglo-French alal(l)ierier, aillaier, Old French alier, from Latin alligāre “to bind to”; alloy

Origin of -ally²

-al ¹ + -ly

Explanation

If you have an ally, you have someone who is on your side, like a more experienced teammate who is your ally in convincing the coach to give you more playing time. Ally comes from the Latin word alligare, meaning "to bind to," like nations who are allies in wartime — they will act together, and protect one another. You can also use ally as a verb, meaning "join forces with." For example, you might ally yourself with influential people to advance your career. As a noun, pronounce ally like this: "AL-eye." As a verb, it's "uh-LIE."

Example Sentences

“It won’t be a friend of yours, like a country that’s an ally or a country that’s your friend. It’s all or nothing.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026

In contrast China, one of Sri Lanka's major investors and a long-standing ally, offered only minimal support, providing less than $2m in aid and around 100 tonnes of supplies.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

Trump and Pakistan have also credited a last-minute intervention by China, a major Iranian ally, for helping to get the talks over the line.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

Zampolli, a longtime ally of Trump, is currently the U.S. special envoy for global partnerships and served on the board of the Kennedy Center in the previous Trump administration.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

As tensions intensified between the Spanish in Florida and the southern British colonies, both the Spanish and the British sought to win over the Cherokee Nation as an ally.

From "An Indigenous People’s History of the United States" by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

Related Words

• associate
• colleague
• friend
• partner