Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

allegiance

/əˈliː.d͡ʒəns/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.69 in modern English

Syllables: al-le-giance
IPA: /əˈliː.d͡ʒəns/

13

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

3

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Loyalty or commitment to a cause, group, nation or of a subordinate to a superior.

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"With what a feeling of joyful security did her heart go back to its old allegiance! Till now she had scarcely been aware of its strength, for she had known it but by its disappointment—now she fully admitted that early and passionate emotion with which Robert Evelyn had inspired her was indeed her destiny;..."
"It was always going to be a hot occasion for Declan Rice and Jack Grealish, the one-time Ireland internationals who subsequently switched their allegiances."

Etymology

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.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: alegiaunce, alegaunce, ligeance

Usage

Inflected Forms

allegiances (plural) allegiaunce (alternative, obsolete)

Derived Forms

counterallegiance

Phrases

oath of allegiance pledge of allegiance

Synonyms

adherence fidelity loyalty fealty devotion sympathy commitment dedication

Antonyms

treason disloyalty

Questions

How do you pronounce allegiance?: The recorded pronunciation is /əˈliː.d͡ʒəns/.
What does allegiance mean?: Loyalty or commitment to a cause, group, nation or of a subordinate to a superior.
Where does allegiance come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce allegiance

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “allegiance”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/əˈliː.d͡ʒəns/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “allegiance”.
Repeat and practice — Say “allegiance” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.