Basic Details
Word: Allegiance
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Loyalty and support for a country, ruler, group or cause.
Synonyms: loyalty, faithfulness, devotion
Antonyms: disloyalty, betrayal, treachery
How to Spell Allegiance
Syllables: al - le - giance
Tricky part: Two l's come first, then e, then giance with an i after the g. The ending is ance, not ence.
Watch out for: allegience, allegance, alleigance
Memory tip: Begin with all, because allegiance is all your loyalty. Then e, and finish with giance, which is giant without its t plus ce.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The knights swore allegiance to the young king.
Example 2: Fans in our colony show their allegiance by painting their faces in team colours.
Example 3: New citizens of many countries take an oath of allegiance.
Fun Fact
In the United States, many schoolchildren recite the Pledge of Allegiance each morning. It was first written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word:
allegiance
a) loyalty
b) devotion
c) faithfulness
d) betrayal
Show answer
d) betrayal. Betrayal is turning against someone, the opposite of loyalty.
Word Cookie
Insert the correct pair of letters to form a word:
al_eg_ance
a) l, i
b) l, e
c) e, i
d) r, i
Show answer
a) l, i. The l doubles at the start, and an i sits after the g.
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the correctly spelt word:
a) allegiance
b) conveniance
c) guidence
d) grievence
Show answer
a) allegiance. Convenience ends in ence, while guidance and grievance end in ance; each misspelling has the wrong vowel.
Mingle-Mangle
Form a meaningful word from the jumbled letters:
ceglanaiel
a) allegiance
b) elegance
c) allegation
d) alliance
Show answer
a) allegiance. Allegation needs a t and o, alliance has no g, and elegance needs three e's.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A soldier's allegiance is usually to his ____.
a) boots
b) lunchbox
c) country
d) tent
Show answer
c) country
2. Which phrase uses allegiance correctly?
a) run allegiance
b) allegiance quickly
c) swear allegiance to the flag
d) allegiance the cake
Show answer
c) swear allegiance to the flag
