relation

noun

re·​la·​tion ri-ˈlā-shən 

1

: the act of telling or recounting : account

2

: an aspect or quality (such as resemblance) that connects two or more things or parts as being or belonging or working together or as being of the same kind

the relation of time and space

specifically : a property (such as one expressed by is equal to, is less than, or is the brother of) that holds between an ordered pair of objects

3

: the referring by a legal fiction of an act to a prior date as the time of its taking effect

—usually used with back

4

a(1)

: a person connected by consanguinity or affinity : relative

(2)

: a person legally entitled to a share of the property of an intestate

b

: relationship by consanguinity or affinity : kinship

5

: reference, respect

in relation to

6

: the attitude or stance which two or more persons or groups assume toward one another

race relations

7

a

: the state of being mutually or reciprocally interested (as in social or commercial matters)

b relations plural

(1)

: dealings, intercourse

foreign relations

(2)

: sexual intercourse

Synonyms

• commerce
• dealings
• interaction
• intercourse

Examples of relation in a Sentence

The incident led to tense international relations.

Recent Examples on the Web

Farrell, who joined film studio as legal counsel in 2013, had been overseeing legal, HR and client relations. —Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Apr. 2024

The president’s comments did not go over well in Papua New Guinea, with whom Mr. Biden has been trying to strengthen relations as part of his effort to counter Chinese aggression in the region. —Peter Baker, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2024

In the Black community, historically, relations with the LGBTQIA plus community have been strained, to say the least. —J.m. Banks, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2024

This will enable the United States to maintain relations with those in China who are concerned about their country’s current trajectory, as well as give Washington room to focus on building up its economic and military capabilities while moving forward with its own global vision. —Elizabeth Economy, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024

The arrests took place a week after Chancellor Olaf Scholz traveled to China to improve economic relations with Germany’s biggest trade partner as well as address differences like Chinese support for Russia. —Reuters, NBC News, 23 Apr. 2024

De Meo has managed to disentangle complex relations with Japan’s Nissan, while Smith helped appease staff at Dutch carrier KLM, which is part of the French-Dutch group, in which both governments own a stake. —Albertina Torsoli, Fortune, 22 Apr. 2024

The result of that vote will be the true test of the union's organizing momentum, said Peter Berg, a professor of employment relations and director of the School of Human Resources and Labor Relations at Michigan State University. —Jamie L. Lareau, Detroit Free Press, 22 Apr. 2024

Those properties lie at the heart of the U.S. embargo on the island and resolving those claims would have put the two countries on the verge of fully normalizing relations. —Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 12 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English relacion, from Anglo-French, from Latin relation-, relatio, from referre (past participle relatus) to carry back

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing relation

• bear no relation to
• blood relation
• equivalence relation
• in relation to
• near relation
• no relation

Kids Definition

relation

noun

re·​la·​tion ri-ˈlā-shən 

1

: the act of telling or describing

2

: connection sense 2, relationship

the relation of employer to employee

3

: a related person : relative

4

: reference entry 1 sense 2, respect

in relation to this matter

5

a

: the state of sharing an interest (as in social or business matters)

b

plural : business or public affairs

good trade relations

foreign relations

c

plural : dealings between persons or groups

improved his relations with his family

relational

-shnəl

-shən-ᵊl

adjective

Medical Definition

relation

noun

re·​la·​tion ri-ˈlā-shən 

1

: an aspect or quality (as resemblance or causality) that connects two or more things or parts as being or belonging or working together, as being of the same kind, or as being logically connected

the strong relation between genotype and phenotype

—Anne M. Glazier et al.

2

: the attitude or stance which two or more persons or groups assume toward one another

race relations

3

a

: the state of being mutually or reciprocally interested (as in social matters)

b

relations plural : sexual intercourse

testified that relations had occurred

—Newsweek

relational

-əl 

adjective