alliance
gb/əlˈaɪəns/ us/əlˈaɪəns/
B1
English
~ 2500
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
relation
1
formal agreement between groups
An agreement between groups or countries to help each other and work together.
Usage pattern:
[group/organization/country] forms an alliance with [group/organization/country]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'alliance' with 'allegiance'; 'alliance' is about cooperation between parties, while 'allegiance' means loyalty to a person, group, or country.
Synonyms
partnership (Often used for business or less formal cooperation; can be less binding than 'alliance'.)
|
coalition (Implies a temporary union for a specific purpose, often political.)
Antonyms
rivalry (Indicates competition or opposition instead of cooperation.)
|
hostility (Indicates active opposition and antagonism rather than cooperation.)
Collocations
form an alliance
|strategic alliance
|military alliance
|enter into an alliance
|forge an alliance
Themes
politics
|business
|international relations
|law
Examples
- The two companies formed an alliance to expand into new markets.
- Several nations entered into a military alliance to defend against the threat.
- Their alliance has lasted for over a decade despite challenges.
- The environmental groups created an alliance to lobby for stronger climate laws.
Learner examples
- The two countries have an alliance.
- Our school has an alliance with a school in Japan.
- The alliance helps both companies grow.
- We formed an alliance to win the game.
Noun
B2
relation
2
close connection for shared goals
A close friendship or connection between people or groups who work together.
Synonyms
association (More general term for a connection; may be less formal than 'alliance'.)
|
affiliation (Implies being officially connected to a group or cause.)
Antonyms
division (Indicates separation or lack of unity between people or groups.)
Collocations
strong alliance
|build an alliance
|political alliance
|alliance of friends
Themes
relationships
|teamwork
|politics
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- There is a strong alliance between the local government and community leaders.
- Her alliance with influential activists helped the campaign succeed.
- The two artists developed an alliance based on mutual respect and creativity.
Learner examples
- They have a strong alliance.
- She made an alliance with her classmates.
- The alliance between the teams worked well.
Grammar
Dictionary form
alliance
IPA
GB/əlˈaɪəns/
US/əlˈaɪəns/
Syllables & stress
al - li - ance (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (li)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: alliance
- Plural: alliance, alliances
Word family
Forms
alliances
noun
Core family
ally
noun B1
allied
adjective
Related words
allyship
noun
Negative and opposite forms
unallied
adjective
Expressions
form an alliance
1/fˈɔɹm ən əlˈaɪəns/
fixed phrase
create a formal cooperative relationship
To start working together with another group or country in an official way.
Examples
- The two tech giants decided to form an alliance to compete with overseas rivals.
- Several small parties formed an alliance to challenge the ruling party.
military alliance
1/mˈɪlɪtˌɛɹi əlˈaɪəns/
fixed phrase
agreement between armed forces of nations
A formal agreement between countries to help each other in war or defense.
Examples
- NATO is the most well-known military alliance in the world.
- The two countries signed a military alliance to protect their borders.
strategic alliance
1/stɹətˈid͡ʒɪk əlˈaɪəns/
fixed phrase
planned partnership for benefit
A planned agreement between groups to help each other for long-term success.
Examples
- The airline entered into a strategic alliance with a hotel chain.
- Strategic alliances are common in the technology sector.