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.
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.
a person who associates or cooperates with another; supporter.
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?
to unite or be united, esp formally, as by treaty, confederation, or marriage
(tr; usually passive) to connect or be related, as through being similar or compatible
a country, person, or group allied with another
a plant, animal, substance, etc, closely related to another in characteristics or form
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.
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English alien, from Anglo-French alal(l)ierier, aillaier, Old French alier, from Latin alligāre “to bind to”; see alloy
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."
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The U.S. will pick up another South American ally on Tuesday when Peru swears in center-right Keiko Fujimori as president.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
The Central Asian leader, who is a Moscow ally but who has never condoned Russia's offensive, said the roots of the war are "not understandable".
From Barron's ● Jul. 25, 2026
George Cottrell has long been a close political and personal ally of the Reform UK leader.
From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026
“If you are new here, I am a vocal ally of the trans community,” Turner wrote on X in 2024.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026
Though the motion was defeated, Stanton had considered Phillips an ally, and she was hurt by his rejection.
From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling
Investors are now awaiting U.S. crude inventory data due later on Wednesday and a meeting of key members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, known as OPEC+, on Sunday.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
For Yonatan Freeman, an international relations expert at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the primary aim of the visit is to dispel reports of a cooling in relations between the allies.
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
In their early years on the court, they appeared to be friends and allies.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026
Congress, the American people, or any of your allies.
From Slate ● Jul. 25, 2026
Male advocates who had once been their allies told the women to support the Fifteenth Amendment and wait until African American men secured their rights.
From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling
For two days, the world's biggest oil exporter Saudi Arabia has reported drone attacks targeting crude facilities that it blamed on Iraqi armed groups allied with Tehran.
From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026
Egan said that EnergyX has worked closely with U.S. officials to ensure that lithium produced at Black Giant “supports secure U.S. and allied supply chains.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
U.S. factories also kept allied Soviet forces provisioned.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 29, 2026
Tigray borders Eritrea and during the war, its troops were allied with Ethiopian government forces.
From BBC ● Jun. 21, 2026
Before Richie kicked Eleanor out, all the kids were allied against him.
From "Eleanor & Park" by Rainbow Rowell
Analysts anticipate the conservative leader, who championed the legalisation of cannabis, could retain the premiership by again allying with Pheu Thai, now ranked third in surveys.
From Barron's ● Feb. 7, 2026
Additionally, Brics enables India to advance its core foreign policy principle of strategic autonomy, whereby it aims to balance relations with a wide spectrum of geopolitical players, without formally allying with any of them.
From BBC ● Oct. 25, 2024
By the time the first Spanish missionaries arrived in the 14th century, at least seven different groups were trading, marrying, allying, and fighting with one another in a complex political network.
From Science Magazine ● Jun. 3, 2024
With Navarro, Foster transforms Danvers into someone more brittle but not lacking in heart, a cornered creature vacillating between allying herself with what’s facing her or turning on it.
From Salon ● Jan. 14, 2024
Only twelve years ago, the rebels were at the height of their power, allying themselves with the Tribes and the king of Marinn.
From "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir
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.
