linkage

American  

[ling-kij] / ˈlɪŋ kɪdʒ /

noun

• linkages
  plural

1. the act of linking; state or manner of being linked.

2. a system of links.

3. Genetics. an association between two or more genes on a chromosome that tends to cause the characteristics determined by these genes to be inherited as an inseparable unit.

4. Machinery. an assembly of four or more rods for transmitting motion, usually in the same plane or in parallel planes.

5. a factor or relationship that connects or ties one thing to another; link.

   Administration officials sought to establish linkage between grain sales and relaxed immigration laws.

6. any of various mathematical or drawing devices consisting of a combination of bars or pieces pivoted together so as to turn about one another, usually in parallel planes.

7. Electricity. flux linkage.

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linkage British  

/ ˈlɪŋkɪdʒ /

noun

1. the act of linking or the state of being linked

2. a system of interconnected levers or rods for transmitting or regulating the motion of a mechanism

3. electronics the product of the total number of lines of magnetic flux and the number of turns in a coil or circuit through which they pass

4. genetics the occurrence of two genes close together on the same chromosome so that they are unlikely to be separated during crossing over and tend to be inherited as a single unit

5. the fact of linking separate but related issues in the course of political negotiations

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonlinkage
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• linkages
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of linkage

First recorded in 1870–75; link ¹ + -age

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Explanation

Linkage means "connection"––the act of linking or the fact of being linked––specifically the kind of connection where one thing follows the other, as if in a chain. A relatively new word (from the mid-19th century), linkage has a scientific or at least a technical ring to it, and it's often used in scientific or diplomatic contexts. In peace negotiations, there is usually a linkage between agreement to cease fire and the meeting of other demands. The connection by which genes travel together from one generation to the next is called linkage.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

linkage linkages

Almost a century ago, County Down-born inventor Harry Ferguson transformed the farming industry when he developed the linkage system still used in tractors today.

From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2026

Others are expansion in digital services and linkage between manufacturer distribution and wholesale distribution.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 19, 2026

The remaining amount is allocated across programs for "awareness and prevention," "screening and assessment," "referral, linkage, and coordination," implementation and evaluation.

From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026

This linkage between the private-credit and private-equity markets is crucial for projecting the two investments’ respective returns in coming years.

From MarketWatch ● May 22, 2026

Mess Night was a testament of linkage, an evening that allowed for the lyrics of both form and ferocity.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy

The swoon in stocks highlighted the close linkages between the economy, markets and a relatively small group of technology highfliers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

Citrini goes into great detail about these linkages, which are worth reading here.

From MarketWatch ● Feb. 23, 2026

"There are no rail networks here and there's really poor public transport so the linkages to other centres and other hospitals is really poor," she told BBC News NI.

From BBC ● Jan. 14, 2026

“Silver has deviated from its linkages to gold and other precious metals,” said Yung-Shin Kung, chief investment officer of Mast Investments.

From Barron's ● Jan. 9, 2026

So the concrete picture and the abstract linkages of relationships fed each other, each making the other more meaningful and affording my emotions an opportunity to react to them with success and understanding.

From "Native Son" by Richard Wright

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Related Words

• connection
• correlation
• interconnection
• interdependence
• link
• relationship
• similarity

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