affiliate

[ verb uh-fil-ee-eyt; noun uh-fil-ee-it, -eyt ]

verb (used with object)

, af·fil·i·at·ed, af·fil·i·at·ing.

1. to bring into close association or connection of action or interest: You can download resources to affiliate your event with our fundraising campaign.

   The research center is affiliated with the university.

   You can download resources to affiliate your event with our fundraising campaign.

2. to attach or unite (oneself or another person) in fellowship or membership; associate (usually followed by with in U.S. usage, by to in British usage):

   He affiliated himself with almost every group dedicated to improving the economic condition of the individual farmer.

   Some of the Greek mixed-faith families affiliated their children to Orthodox Christianity, others to Islam.

3. to trace the descent, derivation, or origin of:

   Competing hypotheses affiliate the language with either Afroasiatic or Nilo-Saharan.

4. to integrate or extend membership to; adopt (as an affiliate):

   The National Golf Federation affiliated the club, giving it an immediate prestige.

5. to connect or associate in thought:

   Many people tend to affiliate the sciences with better pay and job security.

6. Law. to fix the paternity of, as an illegitimate child:

   The mother affiliated her child upon John Doe.

verb (used without object)

, af·fil·i·at·ed, af·fil·i·at·ing.

1. to associate oneself; be intimately united in action or interest:

   Our health advocacy group affiliates with hospitals equipped with the best facilities.

noun

1. a branch organization.
2. Commerce.
   1. a business concern in which a larger concern owns a minority stake, or in which a third concern, the parent of both, owns a majority stake or has been given control by contract:

      The video was reportedly broadcast on STV, an affiliate of Global Television, on September 30, 1999.

   2. (especially in online retail) a company that retails goods on behalf of one or more other companies, paying them a commission:

      Cookies are used to track a customer's progress from the website of the affiliate through to the shopping cart of the merchant.

   3. (in U.S. tax law) subsidiary:

      Development Tax Credits are not available for property owned by the taxpayer or an affiliate prior to July 3, 2000.

3. a person who is affiliated; associate; subordinate.

affiliate

verb

1. tr; foll by to or with to receive into close connection or association (with a larger body, group, organization, etc); adopt as a member, branch, etc
2. foll by with to associate (oneself) or be associated, esp as a subordinate or subsidiary; bring or come into close connection

   he affiliated himself with the Union

noun

1. 1. a person or organization that is affiliated with another
   2. ( as modifier )

      an affiliate member

Derived Forms

• afˌfiliˈation, noun

Other Words From

• af·fil·i·a·ble [uh, -, fil, -ee-, uh, -b, uh, l], adjective
• af·fil·i·a·tive [uh, -, fil, -ee-ey-tiv, -, fil, -ee-, uh, -], adjective
• non·af·fil·i·ate noun
• non·af·fil·i·at·ing adjective
• pre·af·fil·i·ate noun
• pre·af·fil·i·ate verb preaffiliated preaffiliating
• re·af·fil·i·ate verb reaffiliated reaffiliating

Word History and Origins

Origin of affiliate¹

First recorded in 1755–65; from Latin affīliātus “adopted as son” (past participle of affīliāre ), equivalent to af- af- + fīli(us) “son” + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of affiliate¹

C18: from Medieval Latin affīliātus adopted as a son, from affīlīare, from Latin filius son

Example Sentences

In 2023 a Planned Parenthood affiliate and a physician challenged the state’s ban under the state constitution.

From Slate

FAIR’s affiliate legal organization worked to draft a bill in Arizona that gave law enforcement the right to stop people for proof of citizenship.

From Salon

The decrease was due to an increase in college football rights costs, which upped the company’s production and programming spending, as well as lower affiliate revenue from fewer subscribers, the company said.

From Los Angeles Times

In front of Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka, coach JJ Redick, and players D’Angelo Russell, Anthony Davis and, of course, LeBron James, the Lakers rookie began the developmental league portion of his season, scoring six points with three rebounds and four assists in the South Bay Lakers’ 110-96 win over Utah’s G League affiliate, the Salt Lake City Stars.

From Los Angeles Times

The Lakers assigned rookie guard Bronny James to their South Bay affiliate, clearing the way for James to make his G League debut Saturday night in El Segundo.

From Los Angeles Times