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 • Dec. 6, 2021

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 • Nov. 20, 2021

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 • Jul. 7, 2016

Nero wants to forgive her for being a Christian but Poppaea, to save Marcus from what she considers a misalliance, refuses to allow it.

From Time Magazine Archive

The thought of a man, with a future as brilliant as his, being blighted at the outset by such a misalliance.

From Peg O' My Heart by Manners, J. Hartley