Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

affiliation

American  
[uh-fil-ee-ey-shuhn] / əˌfɪl iˈeɪ ʃən /

noun

  1. the act of affiliating; state of being affiliated or associated.


Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of affiliation

First recorded in 1745–55; from Medieval Latin affīliātiōn-, stem of affīliātiō “adoption”; equivalent to affiliate + -ion

Explanation

An affiliation is an official connection to something. To have an affiliation to something is to be affiliated with it. The Tea Party pretty clearly has an affiliation with the Republican Party. You can be connected to all sorts of things, but to have an affiliation is to have an official connection. A local church might have an affiliation with a larger religious organization. A bunch of small groups might share an affiliation with a larger one, as in the case of baseball teams and the leagues they belong to. Often you'll hear politicians denying any affiliation with certain groups, places, or companies, because they want to appear neutral. If you have an affiliation with something, you're likely to pay it extra attention.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing affiliation

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Affiliation means children will be able to compete under the college name again, be fully insured and have access to all Swim England processes.

From BBC • Sep. 25, 2024

Affiliation with and/or general business partnerships with Mr. Combs garnered legitimacy, immense success, and access to top and emerging artists, celebrities, famous athletes, political figures, musicians, and international dignitaries like British Royal and Prince Harry.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2024

As this Statement of Affiliation gets discussed, many in the media are misconstruing its intent and terminology.

From Time • Dec. 28, 2015

Affiliation with a crew, even a tangential one, can be a deciding factor in getting locked up.

From The Verge • Dec. 10, 2014

Affiliation cases, it is true, are recognized by law, but under considerable restrictions.

From The Modern Woman's Rights Movement A Historical Survey by Schirmacher, Kaethe