alignment

Also a·line·ment

[uh-lahyn-muhnt]

noun

1. an adjustment to a line; arrangement in a straight line.

2. the line or lines so formed.

3. the proper adjustment of the components of an electronic circuit, machine, etc., for coordinated functioning.

   The front wheels of the car are out of alignment.

4. a state of agreement or cooperation among persons, groups, nations, etc., with a common cause or viewpoint.

5. a ground plan of a railroad or highway.

6. Archaeology.,  a line or an arrangement of parallel or converging lines of upright stones or menhirs.

alignment

/ əˈlaɪnmənt /

noun

1. arrangement in a straight line

2. the line or lines formed in this manner

3. alliance or union with a party, cause, etc

4. proper or desirable coordination or relation of components

5. a ground plan of a railway, motor road, etc

6. archaeol an arrangement of one or more ancient rows of standing stones, of uncertain significance

7. psychol integration or harmonization of aims, practices, etc within a group

8. psychol identification with or matching of the behaviour, thoughts, etc of another person

Other Word Forms

• nonalinement noun
• realignment noun
• self-alignment noun
• self-alinement noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of alignment¹

First recorded in 1780–90; align + -ment; replacing earlier alignement, from French

Example Sentences

That alignment came as a surprise, but also had benefits from the Dodgers’ perspective.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Julia Gilando, 34, decided she needed a facelift to fix asymmetry in her face after having issues with the jaw alignment earlier in her life.

Read more on BBC

When it comes to the most important customers—employees—corporate leaders forget how alignment works.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Yet Brussels has praised Beijing’s alignment with net-zero policy and the Paris Agreement—even announcing in a joint EU-China statement in July that “green is the defining color of China-EU cooperation.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Islamic Jihad, a smaller militant faction, publicly endorsed Hamas’s position late Friday, signaling a rare moment of internal alignment within Gaza’s armed movements.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• adjustment