allié

Allié is a French word that functions as both a noun and an adjective. As a masculine noun, un allié designates a person or group that cooperates with another to pursue a common objective; a female ally is alliée. The plural forms are alliés (masculine or mixed gender) and alliées (feminine). As an adjective, allié means allied or united, with the feminine form alliée and the plural forms alliés and alliées correspondingly. In everyday usage, the term denotes partners, supporters, or members of an alliance, in politics, diplomacy, business, or military contexts. In historical contexts, the capitalized form Les Alliés is used as a proper noun to refer to the Allied Powers in the First and Second World Wars.

Etymology and usage notes: Allié derives from allier, to unite or join, from Latin alligare through Old French. The noun and adjective share the same root, reflecting the idea of binding together. The word is distinct from alliage (alloy), which has a different etymology.