liitlus

Liitlus is an Estonian noun meaning the act or state of forming an alliance or coalition. It derives from liitma (to unite) and the abstract-noun suffix -lus; related forms include liit (union) and liitumine (joining).

In usage, liitlus denotes a formal arrangement among distinct actors—such as political parties, states, or organizations—establishing common goals and shared commitments, typically set out in a treaty, protocol, or agreement. It can be bilateral or multilateral and may cover military, political, economic, or organizational cooperation.

In contemporary Estonian, liitlus is found mainly in historical texts, legal language, or formal discourse. For everyday reference to a government agreement between parties, words such as koalitsioon (coalition) or allianss (alliance) are more common.

Examples of liitlus include historical regional leagues or defense coalitions and, at international level, general descriptions of alliances formed for collective action. Because the term emphasizes the process of joining, it is sometimes used to describe the act of forming such associations rather than merely the existence of an alliance.

See also: liit, koalitsioon, allianss, liitumine.