Copy Citation
You know what it looks like… but what is it called?
TAKE THE QUIZ
af·fil·i·ate
ə-ˈfi-lē-ət 
-ˌāt
: an affiliated person or organization
Example Sentences
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
Todd Spangler, Variety, 19 Dec. 2022
And yet according to the survey data when forced to choose this community seems to affiliate with a white Spanish identity, blanco.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 8 Feb. 2011
Similarly, previous research showed that dogs given oxytocin tend to approach and affiliate more with other dogs.
—Jason P. Dinh, Discover Magazine, 27 July 2022
The rule extends to affiliate marketers like Barstool via Ohio Adm. Code 3775-16-08(I).
—Jacob Grubman, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2022
Many Chinese and secular Javanese became Christian because that was an open option available to (one had to affiliate with a religion in Indonesia during Suharto's regime) them.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 10 Aug. 2012
At the same time, the tally of Latinos who don’t affiliate with a religion rose by 9 percentage points.
—Alixel Cabrera, The Salt Lake Tribune, 14 Nov. 2022
More than 30% of the midterm voter pool, by one measure, were independent voters, or people who don’t affiliate with either political party.
—Aaron Zitner, WSJ, 12 Nov. 2022
Neither sought to affiliate themselves with the judiciary while engaging in politics.
—Rachel Weiner, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Aug. 2022
CBS News, 27 Jan. 2023
Chafetz and Taub were experienced pilots, according to the owner of Daviation, a company in Willoughby, Ohio, per CBS affiliate WCBS-TV.
—Abigail Adams, Peoplemag, 20 Jan. 2023
The slot once held by the Houston NBC affiliate has instead been replaced with NBC's Early Today, which is actually anchored by Philip Mena, a former KPRC 2 weekend anchor.
—Ariana Garcia, Chron, 12 Jan. 2023
Start by using our affiliate links on this page to be directed to the DraftKings website.
—Catena Media, oregonlive, 6 Jan. 2023
Local media outlets, including NBC affiliate KHQ-TV, showed footage of Kohberger in a red jumpsuit being escorted by authorities on the ground.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 5 Jan. 2023
Authorities identified him Wednesday as Christian Helger, according to NBC affiliate KSL-TV.
—Doha Madani, NBC News, 4 Jan. 2023
Kate Corley, his daughter, confirmed her father’s death in a statement to CNN affiliate WFAA-TV.
—Jordan Valinsky, CNN, 4 Jan. 2023
One man was killed and at least three individuals were injured in the shooting that erupted in a parking lot near Northwest 10th Street and North Hudson Avenue in the downtown area, according to ABC Oklahoma City affiliate KOCO-TV.
—William Mansell, ABC News, 1 Jan. 2023
See More
Verb
Businesses can affiliate their leadership, brands, support handles, employees or teams.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 19 Dec. 2022
And yet according to the survey data when forced to choose this community seems to affiliate with a white Spanish identity, blanco.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 8 Feb. 2011
Similarly, previous research showed that dogs given oxytocin tend to approach and affiliate more with other dogs.
—Jason P. Dinh, Discover Magazine, 27 July 2022
The rule extends to affiliate marketers like Barstool via Ohio Adm. Code 3775-16-08(I).
—Jacob Grubman, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2022
Many Chinese and secular Javanese became Christian because that was an open option available to (one had to affiliate with a religion in Indonesia during Suharto's regime) them.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 10 Aug. 2012
At the same time, the tally of Latinos who don’t affiliate with a religion rose by 9 percentage points.
—Alixel Cabrera, The Salt Lake Tribune, 14 Nov. 2022
More than 30% of the midterm voter pool, by one measure, were independent voters, or people who don’t affiliate with either political party.
—Aaron Zitner, WSJ, 12 Nov. 2022
Neither sought to affiliate themselves with the judiciary while engaging in politics.
—Rachel Weiner, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Aug. 2022
Noun
Rodney Wells, Nichols' stepfather, told CBS affiliate WREG-TV his stepson suffered a cardiac arrest and kidney failure because of a beating by the officers.
—CBS News, 27 Jan. 2023
Chafetz and Taub were experienced pilots, according to the owner of Daviation, a company in Willoughby, Ohio, per CBS affiliate WCBS-TV.
—Abigail Adams, Peoplemag, 20 Jan. 2023
The slot once held by the Houston NBC affiliate has instead been replaced with NBC's Early Today, which is actually anchored by Philip Mena, a former KPRC 2 weekend anchor.
—Ariana Garcia, Chron, 12 Jan. 2023
Start by using our affiliate links on this page to be directed to the DraftKings website.
—Catena Media, oregonlive, 6 Jan. 2023
Local media outlets, including NBC affiliate KHQ-TV, showed footage of Kohberger in a red jumpsuit being escorted by authorities on the ground.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 5 Jan. 2023
Authorities identified him Wednesday as Christian Helger, according to NBC affiliate KSL-TV.
—Doha Madani, NBC News, 4 Jan. 2023
Kate Corley, his daughter, confirmed her father’s death in a statement to CNN affiliate WFAA-TV.
—Jordan Valinsky, CNN, 4 Jan. 2023
One man was killed and at least three individuals were injured in the shooting that erupted in a parking lot near Northwest 10th Street and North Hudson Avenue in the downtown area, according to ABC Oklahoma City affiliate KOCO-TV.
—William Mansell, ABC News, 1 Jan. 2023
See More
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'affiliate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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
Dictionary Entries Near affiliate
Cite this Entry
“Affiliate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/affiliate. Accessed 5 Feb. 2023.
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
affiliate
2 of 2 noun
af·fil·i·ate
ə-ˈfil-ē-ət
: an affiliated person or organization
Legal Definition
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
More from Merriam-Webster on affiliate
Nglish: Translation of affiliate for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of affiliate for Arabic Speakers
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
-
A Good Old-Fashioned Quiz
Can you name these antiquated items?
Take the quiz
-
Which Came First?
"Leggings" or "mom jeans"? "Chillax" or "dumpster...
Take the quiz
-
Name That Thing
You know what it looks like… but what is it cal...
Take the quiz
-
Spelling Bee Quiz
Can you outdo past winners of the National Spelli...
Take the quiz
Share