af·fil·i·a·tive
| \ ə-ˈfi-lē-ˌā-tiv
\
\
Definition of affiliative
: relating to the formation of social and emotional bonds with others or to the desire to create such bonds
It is interesting and significant that most cult members join because of affiliative needs to be with others. — Scott Smith, The Capital (Maryland), 24 Apr. 2008 They have found oxytocin, a hormone associated with affiliative impulses, which may help initiate the onset of a loving bond between mother and infant.— Natalie Angier, New York Times, 24 May 1994
Learn More About affiliative
Statistics for affiliative
Look-up Popularity
Cite this Entry
“Affiliative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/affiliative. Accessed 24 May. 2022.
Style: MLA
MLA
Chicago
APA
Merriam-Webster
Chicago
APA
Merriam-Webster
Test Your Vocabulary
Name That Food
-
- Name these cookies!
Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZ
A daily challenge for crossword fanatics.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Words at Play
-
You're (Probably) Saying It Wrong
18 words even you might be mispronouncing
-
Great Big List of Beautiful & Useless Words
Along with their degrees of usefulness
-
12 French Phrases from Downton Abbey
Many of us have an 'idée fixe'
-
Rare and Amusing Insults, Volume 2
Sometimes a 'cacafuego' can be a real 'slubberdeg...
Ask the Editors
Word Games
-
The Great British Vocabulary Quiz
Make sure you know the difference between a loo a...
Take the quiz
-
Face Your Fears
Don't be scared to answer these questions about f...
Take the quiz
-
Yearbook Superlatives Quiz
"Most Likely to Use Obscure Words"
Take the quiz
-
Lexigo
Find the hidden words by solving the clues
Take the quiz
Share affiliative
Time Traveler for affiliative
The first known use of affiliative was in 1950
See more words from the same year