alignment

American  

[uh-lahyn-muhnt] / əˈlaɪn mənt /

Also alinement

noun

alignments plural

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.

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alignment British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• alignments
  plural

Etymology

Origin of alignment

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

Explanation

The noun alignment refers to the correct positioning of something. If you check the alignment of your feet when running, you're checking to make sure they're not pointing to either side, but going straight ahead. Alignment has to do with adjusting something so it's in the right place. If you take your car in for a wheel alignment, the mechanic will make sure the wheels are on straight. Alignment can also mean following directions or being in agreement. Your school has to act in alignment with state education rules. If you and your brother both believe that poodles should be banned in your town, then you are in alignment on the issue of poodles.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

alignment alignments

By reaching across the aisle, Netanyahu appears to be trying to reframe his electoral pitch around national unity rather than ideological alignment.

From Barron's ● Jul. 12, 2026

That alignment reduces scattering of the heat carrying phonons, allowing thermal energy to move through the crystal much more efficiently.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 11, 2026

“Over the past two weeks, we have worked closely with Anthropic to analyze and approve Fable 5 to ensure alignment across the U.S. government and strengthen America’s leadership in AI,” Lutnick said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026

If “continued funding relies on having this good relationship and having this alignment, you are going to be influenced by it.”

From Salon ● Jun. 26, 2026

The Great Depression effectuated a sea change in American race relations and party alignment.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

Mr. Netanyahu has directed Israel’s diplomacy for 16 of the past 17 years, resulting in many formal and informal alignments with nations that had long been among Israel’s sworn enemies.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026

Wielding a pocket Allen wrench, her colleague Estefany Rodriguez adjusted seat heights and brake handle alignments on Vivian’s new ride.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 1, 2026

"On the contrary, we need a multilateralism that is more deeply rooted in the people and not just in governments, biases or economic lobbying. We need new alignments, new alliances."

From Barron's ● Apr. 27, 2026

Although such alignments are unlikely at any given moment, Titan's outward migration sometimes creates these resonances.

From Science Daily ● Feb. 27, 2026

The hands glide to indicate the proper time, the planetary alignments set themselves in order.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

Related Words

• adjustment