connection

[ kuh-nek-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act or state of connecting.

   Synonyms: union, conjunction, junction

2. the state of being connected:

   the connection between cause and effect.

3. anything that connects; a connecting part; link; bond:

   an electrical connection.

   Synonyms: yoke, coupling, tie

4. association; relationship:

   the connection between crime and poverty; no connection with any other firm of the same name.

5. a circle of friends or associates or a member of such a circle.

   Synonyms: alliance, affiliation

6. association with or development of something observed, imagined, discussed, etc.:

   to make a connection between the smell of smoke and the presence of fire; I have a few thoughts in connection with your last remarks.

7. contextual relation; context, as of a word.
8. the meeting of trains, planes, etc., for transfer of passengers:

   There are good connections between buses in Chicago.

9. Often connections. a transfer by a passenger from one conveyance to another:

   to miss connections.

10. a specific vehicle, airplane, ship, etc., boarded in making connections:

    My connection for Hartford is the 10:58.

11. a relative, especially by marriage or distant blood relationship.

    Synonyms: relation

12. Slang. a person who sells drugs directly to addicts.
13. a source of supply for goods, material, etc., that is scarce, difficult, or illegal to obtain:

    a connection to obtain guns and ammunition for the rebels.

14. a group of persons who are connected, as by political or religious ties.
15. Usually connections. associates, relations, acquaintances, or friends, especially representing or having some influence or power:

    European connections; good connections in Congress.

16. a religious denomination:

    the Methodist connection.

17. a channel of communication:

    a bad telephone connection.

18. sexual intercourse.

connection

/ kəˈnɛkʃən /

noun

1. the act or state of connecting; union
2. something that connects, joins, or relates; link or bond
3. a relationship or association
4. logical sequence in thought or expression; coherence
5. the relation of a word or phrase to its context

   in this connection the word has no political significance

6. often plural an acquaintance, esp one who is influential or has prestige
7. a relative, esp if distant and related by marriage
8. 1. an opportunity to transfer from one train, bus, aircraft, ship, etc, to another
   2. the vehicle, aircraft, etc, scheduled to provide such an opportunity
9. plural the persons owning or controlling a racehorse
10. a link, usually a wire or metallic strip, between two components in an electric circuit or system
11. a communications link between two points, esp by telephone
12. slang.
    a supplier of illegal drugs, such as heroin
13. rare.
    sexual intercourse
14. rare.
    a small sect or religious group united by a body of distinct beliefs or practices

Derived Forms

• conˈnectional, adjective

Other Words From

• con·nection·al adjective
• miscon·nection noun
• precon·nection noun
• recon·nection noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of connection¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; variant spelling of connexion; Middle English conneccioun, connexioun, from Middle French, from Latin connexiōn-, stem of connexiō, equivalent to connex(us), past participle of connectere “to connect ” + -iō -ion

Example Sentences

The trilled R connection to roughness appeared across speakers of all languages regardless of whether the sound was used in that language or not.

From Science Daily

Wings may be the obvious choice when studying the connection between dinosaurs and birds, but a pair of Yale paleontologists prefer drumsticks.

From Science Daily

Police Scotland said three men had been arrested in connection with the incident and that inquiries were ongoing.

From BBC

The researchers note that this greater understanding of the connection between diabetes onset, obesity, and dementia may help inform targeted interventions to prevent dementia.

From Science Daily

This link was not explained by connections between individual psychotic-like experiences and depressive symptoms, but by factors that more broadly measure paranoia and unusual thoughts.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• affiliation
• attachment
• conjunction
• hookup
• link
• linkage
• network
• tie