affiliation

noun

af·​fil·​i·​a·​tion ə-ˌfi-lē-ˈā-shən 

plural affiliations

: the state or relation of being closely associated or affiliated with a particular person, group, party, company, etc.

The radio station has maintained a longtime affiliation with the concert hall and often has featured performers as guests on the air.

A former Democrat, Joseph McCarthy had switched his affiliation and was elected in the Republican landslide of 1946 …

—Ted Widmer

… hundreds of businessmen owe their success to an affiliation with organized crime.

—William Bastone

Synonyms

• association
• partnership
• relationship
• collaboration
• cooperation
• connection

Examples of affiliation in a Sentence

the Little League team, despite its name, the Northern Dynamites, has no affiliation with the Northern Dynamite Company

Recent Examples on the Web

Its affiliation with the broader H&M umbrella can also be a positive thing for innovators. —Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 31 Oct. 2025

Reporters relied on church and minister directories to confirm Assemblies of God affiliation and excluded cases in which no clear connection could be established. —Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 30 Oct. 2025

In June, the company announced a strategic affiliation agreement with Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota. —Arkansas Online, 30 Oct. 2025

Will Sac State be in an FBS conference next season, as President Wood hopes, or will the Hornets play an FCS independent schedule, meaning no conference affiliation? —Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 29 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1791, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for affiliation

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration