nonalignment

[non-uh-lahyn-muhnt]

noun

1. the state or condition of being nonaligned.

2. a national policy repudiating political or military alliance with a world power, as the U.S. or the People's Republic of China.

Word History and Origins

Origin of nonalignment¹

First recorded in 1930–35; non- + alignment

Example Sentences

Its neighbor Finland had already joined in April 2023 in another historic move ending years of military nonalignment.

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This remarkably long era of nonalignment is coming to a close as Sweden joins NATO.

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Sweden, along with neighboring Finland, set aside decades of military nonalignment to seek protection under NATO’s collective security umbrella after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.

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It abandoned decades of military nonalignment in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to become NATO’s 31st member in April, much to the annoyance of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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Yet Sweden is poised to join NATO, following Finland’s accession last year, as both countries set aside years of military nonalignment over nervousness about Russian aggressions.

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