liaison

noun li·ai·son \ ˈlē-ə-ˌzän , lē-ˈā- , nonstandard ˈlā-ə- \

Updated on: 12 Apr 2018

Definition of liaison

1 : a binding or thickening agent used in cooking

a butter and flour liaison

2 a : a close bond or connection : interrelationship

b : an illicit sexual relationship : affair 3a

3 a : communication for establishing and maintaining mutual understanding and cooperation (as between parts of an armed force)

b : a person who establishes and maintains communication for mutual understanding and cooperation

a press liaison

4 : the pronunciation of an otherwise absent consonant sound at the end of the first of two consecutive words the second of which begins with a vowel sound and follows without pause

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Examples of liaison in a Sentence

Today's army works on rotations; soldiers are deployed for about a year and then (in principle at least) they come home. When that happens, local liaisons and intelligence relationships must be rebuilt. —James K. Galbraith, Mother Jones, March/April 2006
I had known Korologos when I was Solicitor General, and he was the Nixon White House's liaison to the Senate. He was a great support. —Robert H. Bork, The Tempting of America, 1990
Gossip columnists began to infer from Evelyn's disappearances that she was engaging in reckless liaisons, and her name was linked with dozens of men around town. —E. L. Doctorow, Ragtime, (1974) 1975
She acts as a liaison between the police department and city schools.
Administrators need to maintain better liaison with employees.
Administrators need to establish a close liaison with employees.
He regretted his liaison with a woman from the office.

Recent Examples of liaison from the Web

In that role, Angone and the assistant deputy acted as the roving street liaison between police and the National Guardsmen in the riot areas.

— Chicago Tribune, "Rage, riots, ruin," 9 Apr. 2018
The pair have fleshed out without appending to the brief liaison between Francesca (Joan Hess) and roving National Geographic photographer Robert (Rob Richardson), deepened it without broadening.

— lily janiak, San Francisco Chronicle, "‘Madison County’ fling now onstage in a TheatreWorks musical," 8 Apr. 2018
The monitoring team is scheduled to select the liaisons by April 11.

— jessica anderson, baltimoresun.com, "What you need to know about the Baltimore Police consent decree," 6 Apr. 2018
Think of yourself as the only liaison between your doctors and your body.

— martine thompson, SELF, "8 Things You Should Know Before Going on Antidepressants for the First Time," 30 Mar. 2018
His wife is a White House liaison at the Office of Personnel Management.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Vodka-Chugging 20-Somethings Are in Charge of Vetting the White House Staff," 30 Mar. 2018
The Journal broke the story earlier this year that Mr. Cohen paid Ms. Clifford $130,000 in late October of 2016 not to talk about the liaison with Mr. Trump.

— the editorial board, WSJ, "The Tale of Stormy Donald," 26 Mar. 2018
Kuzenka has served as the homeless liaison for the past two years.

— sarah smith, star-telegram, "Why some homeless choose to survive in tent cities when shelters await | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 23 Mar. 2018
Jarrod Agen, the vice president’s communications director, said the military liaison for the trip had asked for the document to be signed.

— maggie haberman, New York Times, "White House Job Requirement: Signing a Nondisclosure Agreement," 21 Mar. 2018

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

Did You Know?

If you took French in school, you might remember that liaison is the term for the phenomenon that causes a silent consonant at the end of one word to sound like it begins the next word when that word begins with a vowel, so that a phrase like beaux arts sounds like "bo zart." We can thank French for the origin of the term, as well. Liaison derives from the Middle French lier, meaning "to bind or tie," and is related to our word liable. Our various English senses of liaison apply it to all kinds of bonds-from people who work to connect different groups to the kind of relationship sometimes entered into by two people who are attracted to one another.

Origin and Etymology of liaison

French, from Middle French, from lier, from Old French

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First Known Use: circa 1648

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liaison Synonyms

LIAISON Defined for English Language Learners

liaison

noun

Definition of liaison for English Language Learners

: a person who helps organizations or groups to work together and provide information to each other
: a relationship that allows different organizations or groups to work together and provide information to each other
: a secret sexual relationship