English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun Uncommon

affiliation

uh-fih-lee-AY-shuhn

Affiliation (noun) means a formal connection or association between one group or person and another. Example: “His political affiliation was never a secret.”

noun
1
A formal connection or association between one group or person and another.
"His political affiliation was never a secret."
"The hospital has an affiliation with a leading research university."

How to use affiliation

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA formal link or membership tie between a person/group and a larger organisation.

Common pairings
political affiliation religious affiliation have an affiliation with

Word forms

affiliations plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “affiliation” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

His political _____ was never a secret.

Etymology

From French affiliation, from Latin affiliatio, "adoption," ultimately from filius, "son."

Origin: Latin

Related words

Rhymes for affiliation

See all rhymes for affiliation →

Frequently asked questions

What does “affiliation” mean?

The word “affiliation” means a formal connection or association between one group or person and another. In plain terms, a formal link or membership tie between a person/group and a larger organisation.

How do you pronounce “affiliation”?

“Affiliation” is pronounced uh-fih-lee-AY-shuhn (/əˌfɪliˈeɪʃən/ in IPA).

How do you use “affiliation” in a sentence?

Here is “affiliation” used in a sentence: “His political affiliation was never a secret.”

What part of speech is “affiliation”?

“Affiliation” is a noun.

Where does the word “affiliation” come from?

The word “affiliation” comes from Latin. From French affiliation, from Latin affiliatio, "adoption," ultimately from filius, "son.".

Is “affiliation” a common word?

“Affiliation” is an uncommon word in modern English.

What is the difference between affiliation and association?

"Affiliation" usually implies a formal, often official connection to an organization, such as membership or sponsorship, while "association" can describe looser or informal links between people or groups. Affiliation often appears in institutional contexts, like university or political affiliation.

What preposition follows affiliation?

"Affiliation" is typically followed by "with," as in "affiliation with a university," or "to," as in "affiliation to a party," both indicating the group or organization involved.

Is affiliation the same as membership?

Not exactly; membership specifically means being a registered member of a group, while affiliation is broader and can include partnerships, sponsorships, or informal ties that fall short of full membership.

Featured in

People also searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial