connection

noun con·nec·tion \ kə-ˈnek-shən \

|Updated on: 6 Jun 2018

Examples: connection in a Sentence

Definition of connection

1 : the act of connecting : the state of being connected: such as

a : causal or logical relation or sequence

the connection between two ideas

b (1) : contextual relation or association

In this connection the word has a different meaning.

(2) : relationship in fact

wanted in connection with a robbery

c : a relation of personal intimacy (as of family ties)

Family connections can make getting a job much easier.

d : coherence, continuity

… a confused multitude without order or connection.
—John Locke

2 a : something that connects : link

a loose connection in the wiring

b : a means of communication or transport

a telephone connection

3 : a person connected with another especially by marriage, kinship, or common interest

has powerful connections

4 : a political, social, professional, or commercial relationship

The school has no connection with the museum.

: such as

a : position, job

b : an arrangement to execute orders or advance interests of another

a firm's foreign connections

c : a source of contraband (such as illegal drugs)

5 : a set of persons associated together: such as

a : denomination

b : clan

—

connectional

play \kə-ˈnek-shnəl, -shə-nᵊl\ adjective

See connection defined for English-language learners

See connection defined for kids

Examples of connection in a Sentence

The state plans to improve roads that serve as connections between major highways.
There is a fee for connection to the town's water supply.
All classrooms will be wired for connection to the Internet.
connections between thought and language
Investigators found no connection between the two fires.
The school has no connection with the museum.
Evidence suggests there's a connection between the languages.
I'm not sure I see the connection.
Our family feels a deep connection to the land.
the connection between smoking and lung cancer

Recent Examples of connection from the Web

Has your connection to Puerto Rico made this assignment more challenging?

— harmeet kaur, CNN, "What it's like on the ground in Puerto Rico," 2 June 2018
Two years in, both knew their connection was right, although neither had told their parents of the relationship.

— San Francisco Chronicle, "Rakhi Patel & Heren Patel,," 2 June 2018
The two met in Oklahoma in the mid-2000s, Mr. Lovell said, when Mr. Pruitt sought out the coal executive after his hearing about his connection to Kentucky sports.

— New York Times, "A Courtside View of Scott Pruitt’s Cozy Ties With a Billionaire Coal Baron," 2 June 2018
Recent reports have scrutinized Pruitt's ability to defend the environment given his connections to the industries the EPA is expected to regulate, including coal.

— darcy costello, The Courier-Journal, "Report: Coal exec Joe Craft, big UK donor, is 'cozy' to Scott Pruitt," 2 June 2018
But about two months after the child’s birth, Weldon literally severed his connection to the Probation Department.

— john r. ellement, BostonGlobe.com, "Springfield kidnap suspect had cut GPS bracelet, was a wanted man when he was arrested," 1 June 2018
The friend’s name was redacted from the report, obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, but police identified the victim and her connection to Brooks during a Facetime call with her mother who was attempting to call her daughter at the time.

— raisa habersham, ajc, "Cops: Man assaulted, kidnapped woman after attempting to abduct their child," 1 June 2018
But the surest sign of their connection came just a couple month ago.

— steve hartman, CBS News, ""They're pure magic": Unlikely friendship remains as strong as ever," 1 June 2018
Beekeepers feel invested in their own ecosystem because of their connection to bees.

— noor brara, Vogue, "How One Social Media-Savvy Beekeeper Is Changing the Face of Honey—and Saving Bees at the Same Time," 1 June 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of connection

Latin connexion-, connexio, from conectere — see connect

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

connection Synonyms

CONNECTION Defined for English Language Learners

connection

noun

Definition of connection for English Language Learners

: something that joins or connects two or more things
: the act of connecting two or more things or the state of being connected
: a situation in which two or more things have the same cause, origin, goal, etc.