al·le·giance 
/əˈli:ʤəns/ noun
plural al·le·gianc·es /əˈli:ʤəns/ noun formal : loyalty to a person, country, group, etc. [noncount] ▪ I pledge allegiance to my country. [=I promise to be loyal to my country] ▪ He owes allegiance to them for all the help they have given him. [count] ▪ Both candidates are working hard to convince voters to switch allegiances.
the Pledge of Allegiance — see 1pledge
