Meaning & use
not aligned
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Meanings
phrase
Not in agreement with a particular group, idea, or set of values.
Grammar: Used after a linking verb such as be, seem, or remain, and often followed by with.
Patterns
- be not aligned with someone
- not aligned with something
- remain not aligned
Her views are not aligned with those of the rest of the team.
The country has remained not aligned with any major military alliance.
His actions seem not aligned with the values he claims to hold.
phrase
Not placed in a straight line or in the correct position relative to something else.
Grammar: Used after a linking verb such as be or look, often followed by with.
Patterns
- be not aligned with something
- look not aligned
- not aligned properly
The wheels are not aligned, so the car pulls to one side.
Make sure the text is not aligned with the left margin.
The shelves are not aligned with each other, which makes the room look messy.
phrase
(Of a country) not formally supporting any major power bloc, especially during the Cold War.
Grammar: Used after a linking verb such as be or remain; often capitalized as Not Aligned in political contexts.
Patterns
- be not aligned
- remain not aligned
- not aligned countries
During the Cold War, several countries chose to be not aligned with either the United States or the Soviet Union.
The movement of not aligned states held a conference in Belgrade in 1961.
Many newly independent nations declared themselves not aligned.
Common combinations
- not aligned with
- The policy is not aligned with the needs of local businesses.
- remain not aligned
- The small nation decided to remain not aligned for strategic reasons.
- not aligned properly
- The printer is not aligned properly, so the pages come out crooked.
- not aligned to
- The goals are not aligned to the company's long-term vision.
- politically not aligned
- The newspaper is politically not aligned and tries to present all sides.
Synonyms and how they differ
- unaligned
- A single-word adjective that is more formal and often used in technical or political contexts.
- misaligned
- Suggests something is incorrectly positioned, often implying a fault or error.
- non-aligned
- Chiefly used for countries that are not part of a major alliance, especially during the Cold War.
- disagreeing
- Focuses on having a different opinion, rather than simply not being in agreement.
Opposites
Word family
- align verb
- To place things in a straight line or to bring into agreement.
- alignment noun
- The act of arranging things in a line or the state of being in agreement.
- unaligned adjective
- Not aligned; often used for countries or groups not attached to a larger bloc.
- misaligned adjective
- Incorrectly aligned; often used for parts that do not fit together properly.
Commonly confused: not aligned or unaligned? not aligned or non-aligned?
not aligned vs unaligned
Unaligned is a single adjective meaning 'not aligned'; 'not aligned' is a phrase with the same meaning but often used when the contrast with something else is important.
not aligned vs non-aligned
Non-aligned is typically used for countries that are not part of a major alliance, especially during the Cold War; 'not aligned' is more general.
Practice
The new policy is not aligned ______ the government's stated goals.
Choose one answer.
The correct preposition is 'with' because 'aligned with' is the standard phrase meaning 'in agreement with'. 'To' is sometimes used but is less common and not the standard choice here; 'for' and 'at' do not fit the meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “not aligned”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.