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Definition of allegiance

allegiance

/əˈliːdʒəns/
al · le · giance
Plural:allegiances
•
Adjective:allegiant
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allegiance Lexical Profile

allegiance Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Loyalty or commitment of a subordinate or citizen to a superior, sovereign, government, or group.

Example

"New citizens are required to take an oath of allegiance to the nation's constitution."

2

Devotion or faithfulness to a particular cause, ideology, principle, or person.

Example

"Over the decades, voters in the industrial region gradually shifted their political allegiances."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for allegiance
Antonyms
View all antonyms for allegiance

Word Nuance & Usage

'Allegiance' is regularly followed by the preposition 'to' (e.g., 'allegiance to a cause') and refers to a formal or moral duty of loyalty rather than casual affection.

• Rhymes for allegiance

• Nearby Words

allege
alleged
allegedly
allegiance
allegiant
allegoric
allegorical

Word Origin & Etymology

Dating back to the late 14th century, the word stems from Anglo-French 'alegiance', an alteration of Old French 'ligeance' (loyalty of a liegeman to his lord), which was influenced by the Latin prefix 'ad-'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Allegiance. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/allegiance
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