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View synonyms for allegiance

allegiance

[ uh-lee-juhns ]

noun

  1. the loyalty of a citizen to their government or of a subject to their sovereign.

    Antonyms: treason

  2. loyalty or devotion to some person, group, cause, or the like.

    Antonyms: treachery



allegiance

/ əˈliːdʒəns /

noun

  1. loyalty, as of a subject to his sovereign or of a citizen to his country
  2. (in feudal society) the obligations of a vassal to his liege lord See also fealty homage
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Words From

  • nonal·legiance noun
  • over·al·legiance noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of allegiance1

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English aliegiaunce, equivalent to a- probably a- 5 + liege liege + -aunce -ance; compare Middle French ligeance
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Word History and Origins

Origin of allegiance1

C14: from Old French ligeance, from lige liege
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Synonym Study

See loyalty.
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Example Sentences

It will be a land of hard lines and harsh realities where loyalties and allegiances revolve around one man Donald Trump.

From Salon

Musk's allegiance to Trump and an upcoming change to terms and conditions – which could make it easier to challenge lawsuits filed against Musk's X – have turned people off of X.

From Salon

Never underestimate boomers’ allegiance to nostalgia you can sing along with.

Mr King, the 696rd Lord Mayor, must travel to the Royal Courts to swear allegiance to the Crown before taking up his role.

From BBC

Would its leadership drop the oath to the Constitution and swear an oath to Trump personally, as the German Army did when it swore personal allegiance to the Führer rather than the Weimar constitution?

From Salon

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More About Allegiance

What does allegiance mean?

Allegiance is loyalty or faithfulness, especially to a person or cause.

Allegiance usually refers to a loyalty that is considered extremely important, such as to a country or leader.

If you went to school in the United States, you’re familiar with the Pledge of Allegiance, which is an oath of loyalty to the country recited by schoolchildren and at patriotic ceremonies. This type of formal loyalty is what’s implied by allegiance.

The adjective form of allegiance is allegiant.

Example: Her supporters’ allegiance never lessened, even in the aftermath of the scandal.

Where does allegiance come from?

The first records of the word allegiance come from the 1300s. It comes from the French root lige, meaning “liege,” a feudal lord entitled to allegiance and service. The word originally referred to such loyalty—that owed to a king or lord. Later, it came to mean a person’s duty to their government.

Now that all-powerful monarchs aren’t quite as popular as they were in the Middle Ages, allegiance is used in different contexts. Still, it usually applies to relationships considered important to someone’s identity. A person may show allegiance to their home country after moving away. A president’s advisers may show allegiance by remaining loyal no matter what. Ultra-devoted fans could even describe themselves as having allegiance, such as to a sports team or a pop star. In just about every instance, people who show allegiance are pledging their loyalty to someone more powerful or something bigger than themselves.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms of allegiance?

What are some synonyms for allegiance?

What are some words that share a root or word element with allegiance

What are some words that often get used in discussing allegiance?

 

How is allegiance used in real life?

Having allegiance means you are all in on loyalty, so the word is usually used to refer to serious faithfulness to someone or something.

 

 

Try using allegiance!

True or False? 

Allegiance usually refers to loyalty that is casual or could change.

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Allegheny spurgeallegiant