affinity

[ uh-fin-i-tee ]

/ əˈfɪn ɪ ti /

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See synonyms for affinity on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural af·fin·i·ties.

a natural liking for or attraction to a person, thing, idea, etc.

a person, thing, idea, etc., for which such a natural liking or attraction is felt.

relationship by marriage or by ties other than those of blood (distinguished from consanguinity).

inherent likeness or agreement; close resemblance or connection.

Biology. the phylogenetic relationship between two organisms or groups of organisms resulting in a resemblance in general plan or structure, or in the essential structural parts.

Chemistry. the force by which atoms are held together in chemical compounds.

adjective

of or relating to persons who share the same interests: to arrange charter flights for opera lovers and other affinity groups.

OTHER WORDS FOR affinity

1 partiality, fondness; sympathy, leaning, bent.

4 similarity, compatibility.

See synonyms for affinity on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR affinity

1 dislike, aversion.

4 dissimilarity, disparity.

See antonyms for affinity on Thesaurus.com

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CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of affinity

1275–1325; Middle English affinite<Middle French <Latin affīnitās connection by marriage. See affine, -ity

OTHER WORDS FROM affinity

non·af·fin·i·ty, noun, plural non·af·fin·i·ties, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH affinity

affinity , infinity

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use affinity in a sentence

Some of it was fueled by patriotism, and some by state, local, and even just family affinities.
America’s Slumbering Secession Obsession|James Poulos|September 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There are, of course, many bonds that stretch across between the two, including shared affinities and public support.
Should U.S. Military Aid To Israel Be Cut?|Brent E. Sasley|January 21, 2013|DAILY BEAST
In the meeting, Murdoch also emphasized his political affinities with Thatcher.
Rupert Murdoch Testifies: Denies Ties to British Officials|Mike Giglio|April 25, 2012|DAILY BEAST
These affinities are arguably at the heart of the 40-year dalliance of Iranian and Syrian despots.
Iranian Clerics About to Fall?|Abbas Milani|September 13, 2011|DAILY BEAST

Olivier is based loosely on Alexis de Tocqueville and Parrot has affinities with Audubon.
The Best of Brit Lit|Peter Stothard|January 31, 2010|DAILY BEAST
If cleanliness be next to godliness, a good cleaning would do it good and improve its affinities.
Our Churches and Chapels|Atticus
Now Nature takes no account of the affinities of souls; her aim is fulfilled by the propagation of the species.
Honorine|Honore de Balzac
Beside the attraction on the physical plane—which I believe is very necessary—there should exist all the higher affinities.
Unveiling a Parallel|Alice Ilgenfritz Jones and Ella Marchant
Their language is peculiar, but by no means without miscellaneous affinities.
The Ethnology of the British Colonies and Dependencies|Robert Gordon Latham
Gallardo suggested that Allophryne is a leptodactylid of uncertain affinities.
Systematic Status of a South American Frog, Allophryne ruthveni Gaige|John D. Lynch

British Dictionary definitions for affinity

affinity

/ (əˈfɪnɪtɪ) /

noun plural -ties

(foll by with or for) a natural liking, taste, or inclination towards a person or thing

the person or thing so liked

a close similarity in appearance or quality; inherent likeness

relationship by marriage or by ties other than of blood, as by adoptionCompare consanguinity

similarity in structure, form, etc, between different animals, plants, or languages

chem

the tendency for two substances to combine; chemical attraction
a measure of the tendency of a chemical reaction to take place expressed in terms of the free energy changeSymbol: A

biology a measure of the degree of interaction between two molecules, such as an antigen and antibody or a hormone and its receptor

Derived forms of affinity

affinitive, adjective

Word Origin for affinity

C14: via Old French from Latin affīnitāt- connected by marriage, from affīnis bordering on, related

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for affinity

affinity

[ ə-fĭn′ĭ-tē ]

A relationship or resemblance in structure between species that suggests a common origin.

An attraction or force between particles that causes them to combine, as the attraction between an antigen and an antibody.

affinity

OTHER WORDS FOR affinity

OPPOSITES FOR affinity

Origin of affinity

OTHER WORDS FROM affinity

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH affinity

Words related to affinity

How to use affinity in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for affinity

Derived forms of affinity

Word Origin for affinity

Scientific definitions for affinity