holy alliance: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Historical, Political
Quick answer
What does “holy alliance” mean?
A formal alliance between the three major conservative powers of 19th-century Europe—Austria, Prussia, and Russia—established after the Napoleonic Wars to uphold Christian principles and combat revolutionary movements.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A formal alliance between the three major conservative powers of 19th-century Europe—Austria, Prussia, and Russia—established after the Napoleonic Wars to uphold Christian principles and combat revolutionary movements.
Any powerful, often secretive, coalition formed between individuals, groups, or organizations for mutual benefit and to maintain a particular ideological or political order, typically perceived as reactionary or conspiratorial.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in denotation. British usage may be slightly more common in formal historical discourse.
Connotations
Both varieties share the core historical and metaphorical connotations. In modern American political discourse, it is often used pejoratively to describe the perceived collusion of powerful institutions.
Frequency
Rare in everyday conversation in both regions, primarily used in academic history, political commentary, and journalism.
Grammar
How to Use “holy alliance” in a Sentence
between [Party A] and [Party B]against [a common threat/ideology]to [preserve/oppose something]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “holy alliance” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The two parties seemed to holy-alliance themselves against the reform bill.
American English
- The tech giants are accused of holy-alliancing to stifle competition.
adverb
British English
- The groups acted holy-alliance-like in their unanimity.
American English
- They voted holy-alliance-style to block the measure.
adjective
British English
- They maintained a holy-alliance approach to foreign policy.
American English
- The committee's holy-alliance tactics were widely criticized.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used metaphorically to describe collusion between major corporations or industry leaders to control a market.
Academic
Refers specifically to the historical 1815 treaty or used as a conceptual metaphor in political science.
Everyday
Rare. Might be used humorously or critically to describe a very close-knit, perhaps exclusive, group of friends or colleagues.
Technical
A specific term in European History from 1815-1848.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “holy alliance”
Strong
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “holy alliance”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “holy alliance”
- Using it as a positive term for a productive partnership (it is usually negative/pejorative).
- Confusing it with the 'Quadruple Alliance' or 'Congress System' of the same era.
- Misspelling as 'wholly alliance'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it was primarily a moral and ideological agreement among monarchs to govern according to Christian principles and oppose revolution, though it had significant political consequences.
Extremely rarely. Its historical association with conservatism and anti-democratic sentiment, and its modern metaphorical use, almost always give it a critical or pejorative tone.
The original signatories in 1815 were Emperor Francis I of Austria, King Frederick William III of Prussia, and Tsar Alexander I of Russia.
An 'unholy alliance' is a more common modern phrase denoting a coalition between parties who are normally opposed or incompatible, often for cynical gain. A 'holy alliance' specifically references the historical pact or a similarly ideological, conservative coalition.
A formal alliance between the three major conservative powers of 19th-century Europe—Austria, Prussia, and Russia—established after the Napoleonic Wars to uphold Christian principles and combat revolutionary movements.
Holy alliance is usually formal, historical, political in register.
Holy alliance: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhəʊli əˈlaɪəns/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhoʊli əˈlaɪəns/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “They formed their own little holy alliance to keep the new ideas out.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of three HOLY (very serious, conservative) kings making an ALLIANCE to stop any revolutions, keeping their thrones safe.
Conceptual Metaphor
POLITICAL POWER IS A SACRED UNION.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary modern, metaphorical connotation of 'holy alliance'?