mesalliance: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2formal, literary
Quick answer
What does “mesalliance” mean?
A marriage with a person of inferior social status or class.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A marriage with a person of inferior social status or class.
Any unsuitable or disadvantageous alliance, partnership, or match, especially one considered socially inappropriate.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is more commonly encountered in British historical and aristocratic contexts, though it is understood in American English.
Connotations
In British usage, it often specifically references the aristocracy and class structure. In American usage, it may be applied more broadly to any perceived mismatch in social standing.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both varieties; primarily found in historical novels, biographies, or discussions of class.
Grammar
How to Use “mesalliance” in a Sentence
[Subject] entered into a mesalliance with [social inferior]The family viewed the marriage as a mesalliance.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Could metaphorically describe a merger between a prestigious firm and one of dubious reputation.
Academic
Used in historical, sociological, or literary studies discussing class and marriage.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Not applicable.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mesalliance”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “mesalliance”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mesalliance”
- Misspelling as 'misalliance' (a separate, more common word).
- Using it to describe any bad partnership without the core element of social disparity.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an archaic or very formal term, primarily found in historical or literary contexts.
'Mesalliance' (from French *mésalliance*) strongly emphasises disparity in social rank. 'Misalliance' is a broader English term for any unsuitable alliance or partnership.
Its core meaning is marital, but it can be extended metaphorically to other partnerships where a 'lower-status' party is involved, though this is rare.
The term itself is dated, and the overt class prejudice it implies is largely socially unacceptable in contemporary discourse, though class dynamics persist.
A marriage with a person of inferior social status or class.
Mesalliance is usually formal, literary in register.
Mesalliance: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmeɪzæliˈɑːns/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmeɪzæliˈəns/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'MES' sounds like 'mess' – a messy alliance because of mismatched social classes.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIETY IS A HIERARCHICAL STRUCTURE / MARRIAGE IS A POLITICAL ALLIANCE
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'mesalliance' most accurately used?