# alignment

/əˈɫaɪnmənt/ (US) · /ɐlˈaɪnmənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/alignment
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. physical arrangement

noun · CEFR B2

the arrangement of things in a straight line or in their correct relative positions.

For teachers: the state of being arranged in a straight line or in correct relative positions.

- The wheels on the car were out of alignment, making it pull to the left.
- The architect ensured the perfect alignment of the pillars with the central hallway to create a sense of symmetry.

### 2. agreement or alliance

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

an agreement between groups, countries, or people who have the same goals.

For teachers: the act of agreeing with or supporting a particular group, ideology, or set of goals.

- The company's new strategy is in alignment with its environmental goals.
- The political alignment of the two nations shifted significantly following the signing of the new trade agreement.

### 3. astronomy

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

when three or more planets or stars move into a straight line.

For teachers: the positioning of three or more celestial bodies in a straight line.

- A rare alignment of five planets will be visible in the night sky this week.
- The alignment of the sun, moon, and earth during an eclipse provides a unique opportunity for solar research.

### 4. AI safety

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical · Academic

making sure that artificial intelligence shares the same goals and values as humans.

For teachers: the process of ensuring that the goals and behaviors of an artificial intelligence system are consistent with human values.

- Researchers are working on AI alignment to prevent computers from making dangerous decisions.
- The challenge of value alignment remains a central concern for developers of advanced large language models.

### 5. gaming/roleplay

noun · CEFR C2 · Informal

the moral or ethical personality of a character in a game.

For teachers: a categorization of a character's ethical and moral perspective, typically along axes of good versus evil and law versus chaos.

- My character has a 'lawful good' alignment, so he always follows the rules.
- The player chose a chaotic neutral alignment to allow for more unpredictable decision-making during the campaign.

## Examples

- The mechanic checked the wheel alignment on my car.
- The rare alignment of five planets in the night sky was visible to the naked eye for several weeks.
- Achieving strategic alignment between the marketing and product development teams is essential for ensuring that the final software meets the specific needs of the target audience.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.