misalliance

American  

[mis-uh-lahy-uhns] / ˌmɪs əˈlaɪ əns /

noun

1. an improper or incompatible association, especially in marriage; mésalliance.

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misalliance British  

/ ˌmɪsəˈlaɪəns /

noun

1. an unsuitable alliance or marriage

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Etymology

Origin of misalliance

1730–40; mis- ¹ + alliance, modeled on French mésalliance

Example Sentences

Farber set the tragedy in a bleak Scottish no man’s land, where a mournful cello underscores a doleful marital misalliance.

From Washington Post

This misalliance was not helped when Johnson was here in September and said the French were making too much of the sub spat, noting “Donnez-moi un break” and telling them to “prenez un grip.”

From New York Times

Bernstein made the “Oedipus Rex” recording essentially so that he could use it to demonstrate some points in that final Norton lecture about stylistic misalliances.

From New York Times

Already determined to be an actress, Martin handed over the offspring of this misalliance — baby Larry — to her parents, who raised him.

From Washington Post

Whatever is going on, whatever misalliances and misdelving of quiddities we get into, the human heart is still beating in the same way in everybody’s chest.

From Washington Post