relationship

[ri-ley-shuhn-ship]

noun

1. a connection, association, or involvement.

   Synonyms: kinship, alliance, dependence

2. connection between persons by blood or marriage.

   Synonyms: consanguinity, affinity

3. an emotional or other connection between people.

   the relationship between teachers and students.

4. a sexual involvement; affair.

relationship

/ rɪˈleɪʃənʃɪp /

noun

1. the state of being connected or related

2. association by blood or marriage; kinship

3. the mutual dealings, connections, or feelings that exist between two parties, countries, people, etc

   a business relationship

4. an emotional or sexual affair or liaison

5. logic maths another name for relation

Other Word Forms

• prerelationship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of relationship¹

First recorded in 1735–45; relation + -ship

Synonym Study

Relationship, kinship refer to connection with others by blood or by marriage. Relationship can be applied to connection either by birth or by marriage: relationship to a ruling family. Kinship generally denotes common descent and implies a more intimate connection than relationship: the ties and obligations of kinship.

Example Sentences

Li's visit came as the neighbours seek to maintain a close relationship despite periods of strained ties between China and North Korea over Pyongyang's nuclear programme.

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Rather than pay a percentage of assets under management to maintain an ongoing relationship with an advisory firm, you can find an adviser who charges by the hour or per project.

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This moves the contact into the seldom used “X file,” where I can, in my moments of reverie, review and remind myself of those once treasured relationships.

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Ultimately, when facing these hurdles and different interpretations of what the Book of Mormon or the Church says, members focus on their relationship to the gospel.

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They also value relationships with local banks because they rely on them for credit and other services.

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Related Words

• accord 
• affair 
• communication 
• contact 
• exchange 
• liaison 
• link 
• marriage 
• rapport 
• relation 
• tie