association

noun

as·so·ci·a·tion | \ ə-ˌsō-sē-ˈā-shən

, -shē-\

Definition of association

1a : the act of associating

b : the state of being associated : combination, relationship had a long association with the firm

2 : an organization of persons having a common interest : society an alumni association

3 : something linked in memory or imagination with a thing or person His former school has only negative associations for him.

4 : the process of forming mental connections or bonds between sensations, ideas, or memories

5 : the aggregation of chemical species (see species entry 1 sense 1e) to form (as with hydrogen bonds) loosely bound complexes (see complex entry 1 sense 3)

6 : a major unit in ecological community organization characterized by essential uniformity and usually by two or more dominant species

Other Words from association Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about association

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Examples of association in a Sentence

an association of local business leaders They denied having any association with terrorists. They have a long association with the school and have donated millions of dollars to it.

Recent Examples on the Web

While teams from the same pot will avoid each other during the group stage, the same applies for teams from the same association. — SI.com, "UEFA Champions League Group Stage Draw: When Is It? Where to Watch? How It Works & Key Dates," 29 Aug. 2019 The association was also a plaintiff itself, Miller said. — Mary Grace Keller, baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll, "Carroll commissioners settle lawsuit over prayer in meetings, despite citizens’ urging to keep fighting," 29 Aug. 2019 The association has been surveying and assessing worker shortages in the U.S. since 2013 and pushing for career and technical training programs to solve them. — Dom Difurio, Dallas News, "Continuing construction worker shortages could pose a threat to economic development in Texas," 28 Aug. 2019 Getting started Newly retired, in 2011 Wisdom joined a history task force of three other people for the Grandview neighborhood association to look into the area's history. — London Gibson, Indianapolis Star, "Be your own historian: How this Indianapolis woman uncovered her neighborhood's stories," 26 Aug. 2019 The pilots association there at the time advised San Jose not to build anymore neighborhoods close by or there could be serious conflicts in the future. — Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, "Letter: Reid-Hillview Airport has been asset to San Jose," 25 Aug. 2019 Instead, the association concentrated its resources on candidates in other races who had kept their promises. — David B. Kopel, National Review, "Trump Must Not Break His Promises to Gun-Rights Supporters," 16 Aug. 2019 The goal is to get it before the state school board association's Policy & Resolutions Committee this fall and ultimately its Delegate Assembly, or annual convention, in January. — Jr Radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Resolution circulating among school boards calls for retiring Native American mascots," 14 Aug. 2019 Under the previous contract with Caboose Express, the company paid the athletic association only about $1,200 a year for each caboose, while the company leased each of them for $15,000 annually. — Andrew Wolfson, The Courier-Journal, "Cardinal Stadium's iconic red tailgating cabooses will keep chugging along," 14 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'association.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.