allegiance

noun

al·​le·​giance ə-ˈlē-jən(t)s How to pronounce allegiance (audio)
1
a
: the obligation of a feudal vassal to his liege lord
b(1)
: the fidelity owed by a subject or citizen to a sovereign or government
I pledge allegiance to my country.
(2)
: the obligation of an alien to the government under which the alien resides
2
: devotion or loyalty to a person, group, or cause
allegiance to a political party
allegiant adjective
Choose the Right Synonym for allegiance

fidelity, allegiance, fealty, loyalty, devotion, piety mean faithfulness to something to which one is bound by pledge or duty.

fidelity implies strict and continuing faithfulness to an obligation, trust, or duty.

marital fidelity

allegiance suggests an adherence like that of citizens to their country.

pledging allegiance

fealty implies a fidelity acknowledged by the individual and as compelling as a sworn vow.

fealty to the truth

loyalty implies a faithfulness that is steadfast in the face of any temptation to renounce, desert, or betray.

valued the loyalty of his friends

devotion stresses zeal and service amounting to self-dedication.

a painter's devotion to her art

piety stresses fidelity to obligations regarded as natural and fundamental.

filial piety

Examples of allegiance in a Sentence

He owes allegiance to them for all the help they have given him. Both candidates are working hard to convince voters to switch allegiances.
Recent Examples on the Web Militants in other regions also pledged allegiance to the group and formed local offshoots. Victoria Bisset, Washington Post, 23 Mar. 2024 The Athens, Georgia quintet pledges allegiance to the sounds that powered the Armadillo World Headquarters way back when long-haired hippies like Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings roamed the land. Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2024 Although show season has ended, Gigi’s allegiance to Miu Miu remains steadfast. Alex Kessler, Vogue, 7 Mar. 2024 As the climate shifts, so do allegiances, while young love takes root in this unpredictable environment. David Catlin, The Enquirer, 6 Mar. 2024 Zéphirin was among those who had switched allegiance from the head of state to the first lady, according to Badio, a main suspect in the murder conspiracy. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 21 Feb. 2024 Furthermore, 76% of those considering themselves brand loyal expressed their allegiance to a brand for four years or more. Nikita Prokhorov, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024 Their allegiance to punchy hooks helped the group land on AM airwaves while their roaring guitar suited FM radio. Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2024 Trump can count on the allegiance of his loyalists more than Biden can be sure of retaining the support of those who voted for him in 2020. Benjamin Wallace-Wells, The New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'allegiance.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English aligeaunce, from Anglo-French allegeance, alteration of ligeance, from lige liege

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of allegiance was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near allegiance

Cite this Entry

“Allegiance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/allegiance. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

allegiance

noun
al·​le·​giance ə-ˈlē-jən(t)s How to pronounce allegiance (audio)
1
: loyalty and obedience owed to one's country or government
2
: devotion or loyalty to a person, group, or cause

More from Merriam-Webster on allegiance

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