noun, plural mé·sal·li·anc·es [mey-zuh–lahy–uh n-siz, mey-zal-ee-uh n-siz; French mey-zal-yahns] /ˌmeɪ zəˈlaɪ ən sɪz, meɪˈzæl i ən sɪz; French meɪ zalˈyɑ̃s/.
- a marriage with someone who is considered socially inferior; misalliance.
noun
- marriage with a person of lower social status
n.“marriage with a person of lower social position,” 1782, from French mésalliance, from pejorative prefix mes- (from Latin mis-; see mis-) + alliance (see alliance).