ETYM Old Eng. aliaunce, Old Fren. aliance, French alliance, from Old Fren. alier, French allier. Related to Ally, Late Lat. alligantia.
1. The state of being allied or confederated; SYN. confederation.
2. A formal agreement establishing an association or alliance between nations or other groups to achieve a particular aim.
3. An organization of people (or countries) involved in a pact or treaty; SYN. coalition, alignment, alinement.
4. A connection based on kinship or marriage or common interest; SYN. bond.

1. City in Nebraska (USA); zip code 69301.
2. City in Ohio (USA); zip code 44601.
3. Town in North Carolina (USA).
Agreement between two or more states to come to each other's assistance in the event of war. Alliances were criticized after World War I as having contributed to the outbreak of war, but the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has been a major part of the post-1945 structure of international relations (as was the Warsaw Pact until its dissolution 1991).