- 1 [countable] a country that has agreed to help and support another country, especially in case of a war our European/NATO allies a loyal ally of the United States Wordfinderallyaccord, ally, bilateral, cross-border, diplomat, embassy, international, rapprochement, relationship, treaty Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivegreat, important, key, … verb + allyhave, find, gain, … prepositionally against phrasesfind an ally in somebody, have an ally in somebody, a friend and ally, … See full entry See related entries: International relations
- 2 [countable] a person who helps and supports somebody who is in a difficult situation, especially a politician a close ally and friend of the prime minister her most powerful political ally His sister was his ally against their grandparents. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivegreat, important, key, … verb + allyhave, find, gain, … prepositionally against phrasesfind an ally in somebody, have an ally in somebody, a friend and ally, … See full entry See related entries: Friends
- 3the Allies [plural] the group of countries including Britain and the US that fought together in the First and Second World Wars the Western Allies Word OriginMiddle English (as a verb): from Old French alier, from Latin alligare ‘bind together’, from ad- ‘to’ + ligare ‘to bind’; the noun is partly via Old French alie ‘allied’. Compare with alloy.Word Familyally verb nounallied adjectivealliance nounExtra examples Charles remained a close ally of the French king. He now had an ally against his boss. Jane felt that she had an ally. Portugal is a traditional ally of England. She had found an ally in her old teacher. a friend and ally of the president He’s a close friend and ally of the prime minister.
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BrE BrE//ˈælaɪ//; NAmE NAmE//ˈælaɪ//
(pl. allies) International relations, FriendsCheck pronunciation: ally
