relation

Tweet

noun

Definition of RELATION

1

relations pl  doings between individuals or groups <relations between the rival newspapers remained friendly despite their competition for the same stories>

Synonyms commerce, dealings, interaction, intercourse

Related Words interrelationship; cross-fertilization, cross-pollination; companionship, company

Antonyms nonintercourse

2

a person connected with another by blood or marriage <he and I are relations on my mother's side>

Synonyms cousin, kin, kinsman, relation

Related Words in-law; kissing cousin; kinswoman; blood, clan, family, folk, house, kindred, kinfolk (or kinfolks), kinsfolk, line, lineage, people, race, stock, tribe

Antonyms nonrelative

3

the fact or state of having something in common <there's no relation between you losing your favorite baseball hat and your team losing the game>

Synonyms affinity, association, bearing, kinship, liaison, linkage, relation, relationship

Related Words correlation, interrelation; materiality, pertinence, relevance; bond, link, tie; affiliation, alliance, union; identicalness, sameness; alikeness, community, likeness, resemblance, similarity; accordance, agreement, conformity, congruity, correspondence

Near Antonyms variability, variance; incompatibility, incongruence, incongruity, incongruousness

4

the state of having shared interests or efforts (as in social or business matters) <our intramural baseball team had a relation with the other baseball teams in the area>

Synonyms affiliation, alliance, collaboration, confederation, connection, cooperation, hookup, liaison, linkup, partnership, relation, relationship, tie-up, union

Related Words business, dealings, interaction; exchange, interconnection, interrelation, mutualism, reciprocity, symbiosis; incorporation, integration, merger, unification; affinity, attachment, closeness, intimacy, rapport, sympathy; kinship, oneness, solidarity, togetherness, unity; colleagueship, companionship, company, fellowship; bed, cahoots, league

Near Antonyms breakup, dissolution, disunion; division, parting, separation, severance, split; alienation, divorce, estrangement

Antonyms disaffiliation, dissociation

5

relations pl  sexual union involving penetration of the vagina by the penis <a law that prohibits relations between close relatives>

Synonyms coition, coitus, commerce, congress, copulating, copulation, coupling, intercourse, lovemaking, mating, relations, sex, sex act, sexual relations

Related Words fornication; safe sex; carnality, sexuality; breeding, insemination; dalliance, hanky-panky, whoopee