affiliation

noun

af·​fil·​i·​a·​tion ə-ˌfi-lē-ˈā-shən 

plural affiliations

: the state or relation of being closely associated or affiliated with a particular person, group, party, company, etc.

The radio station has maintained a longtime affiliation with the concert hall and often has featured performers as guests on the air.

A former Democrat, Joseph McCarthy had switched his affiliation and was elected in the Republican landslide of 1946 …

—Ted Widmer

… hundreds of businessmen owe their success to an affiliation with organized crime.

—William Bastone

Synonyms of affiliation

• association
• partnership
• relationship
• collaboration
• cooperation
• connection

Examples of affiliation in a Sentence

the Little League team, despite its name, the Northern Dynamites, has no affiliation with the Northern Dynamite Company

Recent Examples on the Web

This story has been updated to correct Eriksson’s country affiliation. —Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Feb. 2026

More of a loose affiliation of cybercriminals than a cohesive group, Yahoo Boys often share advice on social media on how to scam victims. —Kevin Collier, NBC news, 14 Feb. 2026

Today, Texans of all political affiliations are calling for an end to out-of-control local spending and property tax hikes, and this should be the number one issue for members of both parties next session. —Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026

Emily Hemendinger does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. —Emily Hemendinger, The Conversation, 13 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1791, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for affiliation

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration