1
: a sovereign or state associated with another by treaty or league
2
: one that is associated with another as a helper : a person or group that provides assistance and support in an ongoing effort, activity, or struggle She has proven to be a valuable ally in the fight for better working conditions. —often now used specifically of a person who is not a member of a marginalized or mistreated group but who expresses or gives support to that group The storyline on “Glee” captures something larger that we are seeing with a new generation of allies (allies are people who support LGBT rights but aren’t LGBT themselves).—
David M. Hall
3
: a plant or animal linked to another by genetic or taxonomic proximity : -ly entry 2 —in adverbs formed from adjectives in -ic with no alternative form in -ical Last Updated: 4 Jan 2023 – Updated example sentences
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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