affiliate

1 of 2

verb

af·​fil·​i·​ate ə-ˈfi-lē-ˌāt 

affiliated; affiliating

transitive verb

1

a

: to bring or receive into close connection as a member or branch

The medical school is affiliated with a hospital.

b

: to associate as a member

affiliates herself with the local club

2

: to trace the origin of

affiliated Shakespeare's "Hamlet" to earlier plays

intransitive verb

: to connect or associate oneself : combine

refused to affiliate with any political party

affiliate

2 of 2

noun

af·​fil·​i·​ate ə-ˈfi-lē-ət 

-ˌāt

: an affiliated person or organization

the network's local affiliates

Synonyms of affiliate

Noun

• chapter
• cell

Examples of affiliate in a Sentence

Verb

Their group does not affiliate itself with any political party.

Noun

Two of the company's regional affiliates lost money in the past year.

our local Humane Society is an affiliate of a national organization

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

But Toledo, which is affiliated with the Detroit Red Wings and Grand Rapids Griffins, had its own goalies who needed to play and received priority. — Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 20 July 2026

Already national Democratic and Republican super PACS affiliated with both parties’ congressional leaders have reserved millions of dollars of TV advertising time in South Florida. — Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 18 July 2026

Noun

Planned Parenthood is a national network of nonprofit affiliates, including seven in California. — Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 21 July 2026

The total represents national media rights, league sponsorships, and shared revenue and royalties from the league’s various affiliates and subsidiaries, such as NFL Properties, NFL International and NFL Enterprises. — Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 21 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

probably from French affilier "to bring into close connection" (going back to Middle French, "to adopt as a son," borrowed from Medieval Latin affīliāre, from Latin ad- ad- + -fīliāre, verbal derivative of fīlius "son") + -ate entry 4 — more at feminine entry 1

Noun

derivative of affiliate entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

1767, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1793, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing affiliate

• affiliate marketing

Rhymes for affiliate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate
• angulate

Kids Definition

affiliate

1 of 2 verb

af·​fil·​i·​ate ə-ˈfil-ē-ˌāt 

affiliated; affiliating

: to connect closely often as a member, branch, or associate

affiliation

-ˌfil-ē-ˈā-shən 

noun

affiliate

2 of 2 noun

af·​fil·​i·​ate ə-ˈfil-ē-ət 

: an affiliated person or organization

Legal Definition

affiliate

1 of 2 verb

af·​fil·​i·​ate ə-ˈfi-lē-ˌāt 

affiliated; affiliating

transitive verb

1

: to bring or receive into close association as a member or division

2

: to join or associate as a member or division

intransitive verb

: to connect or associate oneself

—usually used with with

has just affiliated with the huge corporation

affiliation

ə-ˌfi-lē-ˈā-shən 

noun

affiliate

2 of 2 noun

af·​fil·​i·​ate ə-ˈfi-lē-ət 

: an affiliated person or organization

specifically : a business entity effectively controlling or controlled by another or associated with others under common ownership or control compare parent sense 2, subsidiary