ENGLISH
REFERENCE

allegiance

n. C / U
C1 Advanced US //əˈɫidʒəns// UK //ɐlˈiːdʒəns// al·le·giance

n. a person's loyalty or support for a leader, a country, or a group.

n. the loyalty or commitment of a subordinate to a superior or of an individual to a group or cause.


SIMPLE

The soldiers swore an oath of allegiance to their country.

CONTEXTUAL

In many modern democracies, citizens do not have to prove their allegiance to a specific political party to vote.

COMPLEX

The shifting geopolitical landscape forced smaller nations to reconsider their traditional allegiance to the former empire, seeking instead to form new regional alliances for economic security.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English alegiaunce, from Anglo-Norman alegaunce (“loyalty of a liege-servant to one's lord”), variant of Old French ligeance, from lige (“vassal, liegeman”). More at liege.

Usage

Often used with the verb 'swear' or 'pledge'; typically takes the preposition 'to'.

Pitfall

his allegiance for the kinghis allegiance to the kingThe noun 'allegiance' almost always takes the preposition 'to' rather than 'for'.

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