How to say "alliance" in Japanese

• 同盟どうめいJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbThe default word for an alliance between countries, parties, or groups, typically political or military in nature. Use this when 'alliance' refers to nations or organizations formally bound together for mutual benefit.
  戦争せんそうの直前ちょくぜん、日本にっぽんがフランスと同盟どうめいを結むすびました。↗

  Japan entered into an alliance with France just before the war.
• 連合れんごうJLPT N2approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbCovers union, combination, and alliance in the sense of groups joining together into a larger whole, as in a confederation or union of parties or states. It emphasizes the merged body rather than the pact itself.
  戦争せんそうは連合軍れんごうぐんの勝利しょうりに終おわった。↗

  The war ended in victory for the Allied Powers.
• 連立れんりつCommon
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbMeans coalition, most familiar from coalition politics, where parties form a government together. It can be glossed 'alliance', but for general alliances this is narrower than 同盟 and usually points to a coalition.
  新あたらしい連立れんりつ政府せいふはこの難局なんきょくを乗り切のりきろうとしています。↗

  The new coalition government is trying to ride out the storm.
• 合従連衡がっしょうれんこうCommon
  nounA yojijukugo referring to the alliances of the Six Kingdoms against the Qin dynasty, and of individual kingdoms with Qin. It is essentially tied to this historical Chinese context, so it is rarely the word you want for everyday 'alliance'.
• 提携ていけいJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbGlossed 'alliance' here but really denotes cooperation, tie-up, or partnership, especially in business contexts. For commercial or organizational partnerships rather than political alliances, this is the natural choice.
  うちの会社かいしゃはあの合弁ごうべん会社かいしゃと提携ていけいしている。↗

  We are affiliated with the new joint venture company.

同盟 for political or military alliances, 連合 for unions or confederations of groups, 連立 for coalition (especially political coalitions), 提携 for business partnerships, and 合従連衡 for the historical strategy of shifting alliances.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 同盟どうめいalliance
• 連合れんごうunion
• 連立れんりつcoalition
• 合従連衡がっしょうれんこうalliance (of the Six Kingdoms against the Qin dynasty, and of individual Kingdoms with the Qin dynasty)
• 提携ていけいcooperation
• 盟約めいやくoath
• アライアンスalliance
• 合従がっしょうalliance (esp. originally of the Six Kingdoms against the Qin dynasty)
• 連衡れんこうalliance (esp. originally of individual member states of the Six Kingdoms with the Qin dynasty)