attachment
uh-TACH-muhnt
Attachment (noun) means a file sent along with an email or message. Example: “I forgot to open the attachment, so I missed the meeting agenda.”
noun
1
A file sent along with an email or message.
"I forgot to open the attachment, so I missed the meeting agenda."
"The email bounced because the attachment was too large to send."
"The invoice came through as a PDF attachment."
2
A strong emotional bond or fondness for someone or something.
"He felt a strong attachment to the village where he grew up."
"My grandmother has a sentimental attachment to her old kitchen table."
"Children often form a deep attachment to their first pet."
3
A part or device fixed to a larger piece of equipment.
"The vacuum comes with a special attachment for cleaning upholstery."
How to use attachment
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA connection — whether it's a file on an email, an emotional bond, or a physical add-on part.
Common pairings
email attachment
form an attachment
vacuum attachment
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Word forms
- Plural
- attachments
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I forgot to open the _____, so I missed the meeting agenda.
Etymology
From French attachement, built from attach plus the noun-forming suffix -ment.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for attachment
See all rhymes for attachment →Frequently asked questions
What does “attachment” mean?
The word “attachment” means a file sent along with an email or message. In plain terms, a connection — whether it's a file on an email, an emotional bond, or a physical add-on part.
How do you pronounce “attachment”?
“Attachment” is pronounced uh-TACH-muhnt (/əˈtæt͡ʃmənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “attachment” in a sentence?
Here is “attachment” used in a sentence: “The invoice came through as a PDF attachment.”
What part of speech is “attachment”?
“Attachment” is a noun.
Where does the word “attachment” come from?
The word “attachment” comes from French. From French attachement, built from attach plus the noun-forming suffix -ment.
Is “attachment” a common word?
“Attachment” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “attachment” have?
“Attachment” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a file sent along with an email or message.
What is the difference between an "attachment" and a "link" in an email?
An "attachment" is a file, such as a document or image, sent within the email itself, while a "link" is a web address that points to content stored somewhere else. Attachments travel with the message, whereas links send the reader elsewhere to view the content.
What is the difference between "attachment" and "attraction"?
"Attachment" is a lasting emotional bond that grows through closeness and familiarity, while "attraction" is an initial pull toward someone or something. Attachment tends to deepen over time, whereas attraction is often immediate.
What is the difference between "attachment" and a "bond"?
Both describe emotional connection, but "attachment" often stresses fondness or dependence directed toward someone or something, while a "bond" suggests a mutual, two-way link. You can feel attachment to an object, but a bond is normally shared between people.
What prepositions are used with "attachment"?
You feel an "attachment to" a person, place, or thing. In email, a file is sent "as an attachment," and in the equipment sense you use an "attachment for" a tool, such as an attachment for a drill.
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