affinity

[ uh-fin-i-tee ]

noun

, plural af·fin·i·ties.

1. a natural liking for or attraction to a person, thing, idea, etc.

   Synonyms: bent, leaning, sympathy, fondness, partiality

   Antonyms: aversion, dislike

2. a person, thing, idea, etc., for which such a natural liking or attraction is felt.
3. relationship by marriage or by ties other than those of blood ( consanguinity ).
4. inherent likeness or agreement; close resemblance or connection.

   Synonyms: compatible, similarity

   Antonyms: disparity, dissimilarity

5. Biology. the phylogenetic relationship between two organisms or groups of organisms resulting in a resemblance in general plan or structure, or in the essential structural parts.
6. Chemistry. the force by which atoms are held together in chemical compounds.

adjective

1. of or relating to persons who share the same interests:

   to arrange charter flights for opera lovers and other affinity groups.

affinity

/ əˈfɪnɪtɪ /

noun

1. foll bywith or for a natural liking, taste, or inclination towards a person or thing
2. the person or thing so liked
3. a close similarity in appearance or quality; inherent likeness
4. relationship by marriage or by ties other than of blood, as by adoption Compare consanguinity
5. similarity in structure, form, etc, between different animals, plants, or languages
6. chem
   1. the tendency for two substances to combine; chemical attraction
   2. a measure of the tendency of a chemical reaction to take place expressed in terms of the free energy change A
7. biology a measure of the degree of interaction between two molecules, such as an antigen and antibody or a hormone and its receptor

affinity

/ ə-fĭn′ĭ-tē /

1. A relationship or resemblance in structure between species that suggests a common origin.
2. An attraction or force between particles that causes them to combine, as the attraction between an antigen and an antibody.

Derived Forms

• afˈfinitive, adjective

Other Words From

• nonaf·fini·ty noun plural nonaffinities adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of affinity¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English affinite, from Middle French, from Latin affīnitās “connection by marriage”; equivalent to affine + -ity

Word History and Origins

Origin of affinity¹

C14: via Old French from Latin affīnitāt- connected by marriage, from affīnis bordering on, related

Example Sentences

It requires a passion for cities, urban history and, perhaps, cartography; an affinity for architecture and urban design; a love of community; and a knack for numbers.

From Los Angeles Times

Starmer and Trump spoke on the phone after the US election result, with Downing Street telling reporters they "fondly recalled" their dinner in September, as well as Trump's "connections and affinity" to the UK.

From BBC

The read-out of the call from No10 also seeks to leverage "President-elect Trump’s close connections and affinity to the United Kingdom" - his mum was born on the Hebridean island of Lewis.

From BBC

Foreign allies are no doubt meeting with their national security people as we speak, implementing plans to distance themselves from the United States, knowing Trump's affinity for autocrats like Russia's Putin and Hungary's Orbán.

From Salon

The Prince of Wales spoke of his affinity with Africa having spent time there on his gap year before university, volunteering on wildlife conservation projects in Kenya, Botswana, and Tanzania .

From BBC

Related Words

• affection
• closeness
• fondness
• leaning
• rapport
• sympathy
• weakness