alignment
alignment — noun
1. the state or arrangement of things being set in one straight row or in matching
the state or arrangement of things being set in one straight row or in matching parallel rows.
The dentist checked the alignment of Nina's teeth before fitting braces.
alignment of teeth
Workers stretched a string to test the alignment of the fence posts.
From the hill, the guide checked the alignment of the old stone walls.
Poor wheel alignment made the car pull left on wet roads.
The photo shows the lamps in perfect alignment along the garden path.
- positioning
general term for where parts are placed; less focused on forming a straight line
- arrangement
broader and more general; it does not specifically suggest line or parallel order
- line-up
informal and often used for people or events rather than precise physical position
- misalignment
used when parts are not in the correct line or position
文法句型
the alignment of + physical objects
in alignment with + object
out of alignment
用法筆記
Often used for parts that should line up exactly, such as teeth, wheels, doors, or posts. Distinguish from sense 3, which is usually about plans, values, or rules matching each other rather than physical objects.
常見錯誤
2. a partnership in which countries, parties, or other groups join forces because w
a partnership in which countries, parties, or other groups join forces because working together helps them reach common goals.
The two parties announced an alignment before the city election.
political alignment between parties
After the treaty, military alignment with a larger neighbor reshaped the island's foreign policy.
alignment with + country/group
Three small parties formed an alignment to block the mayor's tax plan.
At the rally, her speech suggested closer alignment between labor unions and students.
The newspaper predicted an alignment of small parties after the scandal.
- alliance
the closest everyday synonym, especially for countries or political groups
- coalition
often temporary and especially common for governments or campaign groups
- partnership
broader and more neutral; common in business as well as politics
- bloc
used for a recognizable group acting together inside a larger system
- division
emphasizes groups separating rather than joining
- opposition
suggests active disagreement or being on the other side
文法句型
an alignment between + groups
an alignment with + country/group
form an alignment
用法筆記
Usually countable and most often used about organized groups rather than private opinions. Common with 'between', 'with', and 'of', especially in political or international news.
常見錯誤
3. a relationship in which ideas, plans, actions, or parts match properly and do no
a relationship in which ideas, plans, actions, or parts match properly and do not pull in different directions.
There is no alignment between the school's rules and its daily practice.
alignment between + abstract nouns
Her spending habits are not in alignment with her long-term goals.
in alignment with + noun
The new logo brought the website into alignment with the store signs.
After the meeting, the plan was in alignment with the team's goals.
Teachers asked for better alignment between exams and classroom lessons.
- consistency
focuses on not contradicting something else, often over time
- harmony
adds a sense of smooth or pleasing fit, often in relationships or design
- correspondence
more formal; stresses a close match between two sets of facts or ideas
- fit
plain and common, but less formal and less abstract than 'alignment'
- conflict
shows the two things pull against each other
- mismatch
a plain word for things that do not suit or match
- inconsistency
highlights a lack of internal agreement
文法句型
in alignment with + noun
out of alignment with + noun
bring something into alignment with + noun
alignment between + plans/rules/goals
用法筆記
Very often used with 'with', 'between', and the phrases 'in alignment' or 'into alignment'. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is about things matching or agreeing, not about groups forming a joint partnership.
常見錯誤
4. work on getting AI systems to follow human goals and safety rules, so their acti
work on getting AI systems to follow human goals and safety rules, so their actions stay within what people want or value.
The lab hired philosophers and engineers to work on AI alignment.
AI alignment
Researchers questioned the chatbot's AI alignment after it suggested unsafe diet tips.
Good AI alignment should stop the chatbot from giving dangerous diet advice.
At the Taipei conference, speakers focused on AI alignment, safety checks, and human control.
Without strong AI alignment, a cleaning robot may block the fire exit.
- AI safety
broader field; includes alignment but also testing, security, and deployment risks
- value alignment
narrower phrase that stresses matching human values in particular
- AI governance
more about rules and institutions than about model behavior itself
- misalignment
used when an AI system follows goals that conflict with human intentions
文法句型
AI alignment
alignment of AI systems with human values
work on alignment
用法筆記
Normally appears as the fixed term 'AI alignment' in technology and policy discussion. Distinguish from sense 3: here the subject is specifically the behavior of artificial intelligence, not ordinary plans or organizations.