relation

noun

re·​la·​tion ri-ˈlā-shən 

1

: the act of telling or recounting : account

2

: an aspect or quality (such as resemblance) that connects two or more things or parts as being or belonging or working together or as being of the same kind

the relation of time and space

specifically : a property (such as one expressed by is equal to, is less than, or is the brother of) that holds between an ordered pair of objects

3

: the referring by a legal fiction of an act to a prior date as the time of its taking effect

—usually used with back

4

a(1)

: a person connected by consanguinity or affinity : relative

(2)

: a person legally entitled to a share of the property of an intestate

b

: relationship by consanguinity or affinity : kinship

5

: reference, respect

in relation to

6

: the attitude or stance which two or more persons or groups assume toward one another

race relations

7

a

: the state of being mutually or reciprocally interested (as in social or commercial matters)

b relations plural

(1)

: dealings, intercourse

foreign relations

(2)

: sexual intercourse

Synonyms

• commerce
• dealings
• interaction
• intercourse

Examples of relation in a Sentence

The incident led to tense international relations.

Recent Examples on the Web

The sterile display bears little relation to the equipment after the fire, so the attorneys and their fire investigators viewed pre-fire photos of the poles. —Jennifer McDermott, Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 Sep. 2023

But that is the only position battle still not resolved, according to the team's media relations department, which put out the depth chart on Tuesday afternoon. —Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 6 Sep. 2023

Cuba was a major ally of the Soviet Union during the Cold War, and relations between Havana and Moscow have remained cozy since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. —Christian Edwards, CNN, 5 Sep. 2023

The 1960s was a turbulent time for race relations in the country and the city. —Megan Sims, cleveland, 4 Sep. 2023

White House officials did not publicly confirm that such a meeting was expected to take place but expressed growing concern over relations between Moscow and Pyongyang — and urged Kim not to move forward with the trip or sell weapons to Moscow. —Miriam Berger, Washington Post, 4 Sep. 2023

Washington-Beijing relations have taken a nosedive since then, after a Chinese spy craft traversed the continental United States earlier this year. —Danielle Wallace, Fox News, 4 Sep. 2023

Olly Box The use of different words such as sovereignty rather than government and possession rather than chieftainship are complicating relations almost 200 years later. —Saphora Smith, NBC News, 27 Aug. 2023

The church, meanwhile, built good diplomatic relations with the government officials, assuring them that any future missionaries would be sensitive to the culture. —Peggy Fletcher Stack, The Salt Lake Tribune, 27 Aug. 2023

See More

Word History

Etymology

Middle English relacion, from Anglo-French, from Latin relation-, relatio, from referre (past participle relatus) to carry back

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing relation

• in relation to
• bear no relation to
• no relation
• near relation
• blood relation
• equivalence relation

• in relation to
• bear no relation to
• no relation
• near relation
• blood relation
• equivalence relation

Kids Definition

relation

noun

re·​la·​tion ri-ˈlā-shən 

1

: the act of telling or describing

2

: connection sense 2, relationship

the relation of employer to employee

3

: a related person : relative

4

: reference entry 1 sense 2, respect

in relation to this matter

5

a

: the state of sharing an interest (as in social or business matters)

b

plural : business or public affairs

good trade relations

foreign relations

c

plural : dealings between persons or groups

improved his relations with his family

relational

-shnəl

-shən-ᵊl

adjective

Medical Definition

relation

noun

re·​la·​tion ri-ˈlā-shən 

1

: an aspect or quality (as resemblance or causality) that connects two or more things or parts as being or belonging or working together, as being of the same kind, or as being logically connected

the strong relation between genotype and phenotype

—Anne M. Glazier et al.

2

: the attitude or stance which two or more persons or groups assume toward one another

race relations

3

a

: the state of being mutually or reciprocally interested (as in social matters)

b

relations plural : sexual intercourse

testified that relations had occurred

—Newsweek

relational

-əl 

adjective