coalition

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French coalition, from Medieval Latin coalitiō, coalitiōnem, from Latin coalitus.

noun

1. A temporary group or union of organizations, usually formed for a particular advantage.
   The Liberal Democrats and Conservative parties formed a coalition government in 2010.
   At a time when Mr. Cameron is being squeezed from both sides — from the right by members of his own party and by the anti-immigrant, anti-Europe U.K. Independence Party, and from the left by his Liberal Democrat coalition partners — the move seemed uncharacteristically clunky. May 23 2013, Sarah Lyall, “British Leader’s Liberal Turn Sets Off a Rebellion in His Party”, in New York Times, retrieved 2013-05-29
2. (rare) The collective noun for a group of cheetahs.
   Sometimes the ante is upped, the gaggle of bowlers all working on their batsman in turn, like a coalition of cheetahs singling out a vulnerable gazelle, sending their distinctive balls down until the pressure forces a mistake or the batsman gets his own back by smashing a bad ball over everyone’s heads. August 7 2013, Joshi Herrmann, “How cricket netted the hipsters”, in London Evening Standard
   Majed Sultan Ali was on his second visit to the game reserve in a bid to photograph a coalition of cheetahs. September 6 2014, Darren Boyle, “Running wild! Mother cheetah has SIX cubs keeping her busy by jumping, hiding and climbing all over her”, in The Daily Mail
   This is the incredible moment a juvenile ostrich attempts to outrun a coalition of cheetahs that forms a central part of the latest BBC programme to be presented by Sir David Attenborough. June 11 2015, “This is the moment an ostrich attempts to outrun cheetahs in Sir David Attenborough's latest show”, in Bristol Post