affiliation
Americannoun
Other Word Forms
- interaffiliation noun
- nonaffiliation noun
- preaffiliation noun
- reaffiliation noun
- superaffiliation noun
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.
Vocabulary lists containing affiliation
President Obama's Farewell Address
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Legend
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Dear Martin
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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.
Under California’s unique primary system, the two candidates who receive the most votes in the primary will move on to the November general election, regardless of party affiliation.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026
The authors determined players’ political affiliation by looking at voting registration, social-media posts and traditional media articles and interviews.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026
"Anti-corruption and an end to appointments on the basis of political affiliation and nepotism are our key demands. If we have to fight against our own party regarding this, we will do so."
From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026
Five states, meanwhile, have provided publicly available voter information – name, address and party affiliation – to the DOJ while withholding more sensitive information.
From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026
I will become their daughter, though I never can bring myself to call them Mother and Father—our affiliation feels too formal for that.
From "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
