relation

[ ri-ley-shuhn ]

noun

1. an existing connection; a significant association between or among things:

   the relation between cause and effect.

   Synonyms: link, tie, relationship

   Antonyms: independence

2. relations,
   1. the various connections between peoples, countries, etc.:

      foreign relations.

   2. the various connections in which persons are brought together:

      business and social relations.

   3. sexual intercourse.
3. the mode or kind of connection between one person and another, between an individual and God, etc.
4. connection between persons by blood or marriage.

   Synonyms: kinship, relationship

5. a person who is related by blood or marriage; relative:

   his wife's relations.

6. the act of relating, narrating, or telling; narration.

   Synonyms: description, recital, recitation

7. Law. a principle whereby effect is given to an act done at one time as if it had been done at a previous time.
8. Mathematics.
   1. a property that associates two quantities in a definite order, as equality or inequality.
   2. a single- or multiple-valued function.

relation

/ rɪˈleɪʃən /

noun

1. the state or condition of being related or the manner in which things are related
2. connection by blood or marriage; kinship
3. a person who is connected by blood or marriage; relative; kinsman
4. reference or regard (esp in the phrase in or with relation to )
5. the position, association, connection, or status of one person or thing with regard to another or others
6. the act of relating or narrating
7. an account or narrative
8. law the principle by which an act done at one time is regarded in law as having been done antecedently
9. law the statement of grounds of complaint made by a relator
10. logic maths
    1. an association between ordered pairs of objects, numbers, etc, such as … is greater than …
    2. the set of ordered pairs whose members have such an association
11. philosophy
    1. a relation that necessarily holds between its relata, as 4 is greater than 2
    2. a relation that does not so hold

Other Words From

• re·lation·less adjective
• nonre·lation noun
• prere·lation noun
• subre·lation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of relation¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English relacion, from Latin relātiōn-, stem of relātiō “a carrying back, narration, repayment”; equivalent to relate + -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of relation¹

C14: from Latin relātiō a narration, a relation (between philosophical concepts)

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in / with relation to, with reference to; concerning:

   It's best to plan with relation to anticipated changes in one's earnings.

More idioms and phrases containing relation

see poor relation ; relative (in relation) to .

Example Sentences

When looking for a country to follow the UAE in normalizing relations with Israel, it was likely he and his team would turn to Bahrain.

From Vox

He then set up a recurrence relation and had his computer crunch the numbers via memoization.

From FiveThirtyEight

City Councilwoman Barbara Bry has cleared up any confusion on where she stands in relation to an ambitious new transit.

From Voice of San Diego

The effectiveness of air purifiers depends on how well they catch air particles and their size in relation to the space they must filter.

From Fortune

Julia Miashkova is a social data analyst with a background in public relations and SEO.

From Search Engine Watch

Kim Kardashian Breaks the InternetTalking about butts in relation to Kim Kardashian had become tired.

From The Daily Beast

It was now almost impossible to speak of individual divisions in relation to these actions, but only of corps.

From The Daily Beast

Our ability to feel seen is truly dependent on being in relation to someone else.

From The Daily Beast

Tom Davis (no relation to Wendy) is very clear in his perspective on this.

From The Daily Beast

My nearest relation, my wife, is telling me to get off my database and take out the garbage.

From The Daily Beast

This mania for correction shows itself too in relation to the authorities themselves.

From Project Gutenberg

The relation existing between the balmy plant and the commerce of the world is of the strongest kind.

From Project Gutenberg

In the close relation and affection of these last days, the sense of alienation and antagonism faded from both their hearts.

From Project Gutenberg

The conception of the relation of this institution with them as co-operative makes headway slowly.

From Project Gutenberg

Uric acid is decreased before an attack of gout and increased afterward, but its etiologic relation is still uncertain.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• relationship