attachment

[uh-tach-muhnt]

noun

1. an act of attaching or the state of being attached.

2. a feeling that binds one to a person, thing, cause, ideal, or the like; devotion; regard.

   a fond attachment to his cousin; a profound attachment to the cause of peace.

   Synonyms: devotedness, love

3. Psychology.

   1. an emotional bond between an infant or toddler and primary caregiver, a strong bond being vital for the child’s normal behavioral and social development.

   2. an enduring emotional bond that develops between one adult and another in an intimate relationship.

      romantic attachment.

4. something that attaches; a fastening or tie.

   the attachments of a harness; the attachments of a pair of skis.

   Synonyms: connection, junction

5. an additional or supplementary device.

   attachments for an electric drill.

6. Law.,  seizure of property or person by legal authority, especially seizure of a defendant's property to prevent its dissipation before trial or to acquire jurisdiction over it.

7. something attached, as a document added to a letter.

8. Digital Technology.,  a computer or electronic file sent with an email.

attachment

/ əˈtætʃmənt /

noun

1. a means of securing; a fastening

2. (often foll by to) affection or regard (for); devotion (to)

   attachment to a person or to a cause

3. an object to be attached, esp a supplementary part

   an attachment for an electric drill

4. the act of attaching or the state of being attached

5. 1. the arrest of a person for disobedience to a court order

   2. the lawful seizure of property and placing of it under control of a court

   3. a writ authorizing such arrest or seizure

6. law the binding of a debt in the hands of a garnishee until its disposition has been decided by the court

Other Word Forms

• nonattachment noun
• overattachment noun
• preattachment noun
• reattachment noun
• self-attachment noun
• superattachment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of attachment¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English attachement “detention, distraint, seizure,” from Anglo-French; attach, -ment

Synonym Study

See addition.

Example Sentences

In Hitchcock’s movie, Bates, like Gein, exhibits severe attachment to his mother.

From Los Angeles Times

“We actually don’t name our patients, just because, you know, there comes that attachment,” Hernandez-Cusick said.

From Los Angeles Times

Ivy had hoped starting secondary school in 2024 would provide her with more freedom, which is why her mum Emma applied to Whizz Kidz for an electrical attachment for Ivy's wheelchair to make life easier.

From BBC

Someone with a parasocial attachment to the pair would have a field day trying to decipher which of the album’s eight tracks are about the other.

From Los Angeles Times

Emotional attachment is one of the main reasons people struggle to let go of items.

From BBC

Related Words

• affinity 
• devotion 
• friendship 
• loyalty