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

The two men have a warm relationship, and text or call each other often - sometimes on a weekly basis, according to two sources familiar with the conversations.

Read more on BBC

In a recent report, it attempted to map the industry’s circular financial relationships.

Read more on Barron's

“Rather than just say, it’s that person’s fault or your fault, he was always bringing his organizer mind to how we would repair the relationship and move forward together,” he said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

These women are professionals who care about people, wildlife and the mutually beneficial relationship between the two.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Instead, the relationship between the world’s two largest economies took a turn for the worse, sending the S&P 500 down 1.3% to 6650.79.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

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