alignment

/əˈlaɪnmənt/
nounIntermediate
general

the arrangement of things in a straight line or proper order

The engineer checked the alignment of the machine parts.

He verified that all components were correctly positioned.

💡

Often used in technical contexts like engineering, design, or organizational planning.

general

agreement or harmony between people or ideas

There was a strong alignment between the team's vision and the CEO's strategy.

Their goals and the CEO's plans were closely connected.

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Common in business, leadership, and psychology discussions.

Collocations

alignment withagreement or correspondence withmisalignmentlack of proper arrangement or agreement

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

get on the same pagephrase
to reach agreement or alignment
in syncphrase
in alignment or harmony

💡Pro Tip

Technical vs. Abstract Use

Note that 'alignment' can refer to physical positioning (e.g., machinery) or conceptual agreement (e.g., goals).

Gold Rule

Context Matters

Always consider the context to determine whether 'alignment' refers to physical or abstract arrangement.

📖Word Origin

From Middle French 'alignement,' from 'aligner' (to align), from Old French 'a-' (to) + 'ligne' (line).

📝Usage Notes

In technical contexts, it refers to physical positioning; in abstract contexts, it refers to conceptual agreement.

Word Breakdown

align
to arrange in a straight line or bring into agreement
root
+
-ment
the result or process of
suffix
English Dictionary