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 of affiliation

• 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

The top two vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, will move on to the general election in November. —Terry Collins, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2026

Under California’s unique primary system, the two candidates who receive the most votes in the primary will move on to the November general election, regardless of party affiliation. —Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026

In his letter, Uthmeier said that due to the Miami-area university’s affiliation with the Roman Catholic Church and its claims in the student handbook, declining to recognize the TPUSA chapter violates Florida law. —Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 9 Apr. 2026

Another seat is held by an independent, who switched his party affiliation in March, but still caucuses with Republicans. —Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026

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