relation

[ ri-ley-shuhn ]

noun

1. an existing connection; a significant association between or among things:

   the relation between cause and effect.

   Synonyms: link, tie, relationship

   Antonyms: independence

2. relations,
   1. the various connections between peoples, countries, etc.:

      foreign relations.

   2. the various connections in which persons are brought together:

      business and social relations.

   3. sexual intercourse.
3. the mode or kind of connection between one person and another, between an individual and God, etc.
4. connection between persons by blood or marriage.

   Synonyms: kinship, relationship

5. a person who is related by blood or marriage; relative:

   his wife's relations.

6. the act of relating, narrating, or telling; narration.

   Synonyms: description, recital, recitation

7. Law. a principle whereby effect is given to an act done at one time as if it had been done at a previous time.
8. Mathematics.
   1. a property that associates two quantities in a definite order, as equality or inequality.
   2. a single- or multiple-valued function.

relation

/ rɪˈleɪʃən /

noun

1. the state or condition of being related or the manner in which things are related
2. connection by blood or marriage; kinship
3. a person who is connected by blood or marriage; relative; kinsman
4. reference or regard (esp in the phrase in or with relation to )
5. the position, association, connection, or status of one person or thing with regard to another or others
6. the act of relating or narrating
7. an account or narrative
8. law the principle by which an act done at one time is regarded in law as having been done antecedently
9. law the statement of grounds of complaint made by a relator
10. logic maths
    1. an association between ordered pairs of objects, numbers, etc, such as … is greater than …
    2. the set of ordered pairs whose members have such an association
11. philosophy
    1. a relation that necessarily holds between its relata, as 4 is greater than 2
    2. a relation that does not so hold

Other Words From

• re·lation·less adjective
• nonre·lation noun
• prere·lation noun
• subre·lation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of relation¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English relacion, from Latin relātiōn-, stem of relātiō “a carrying back, narration, repayment”; equivalent to relate + -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of relation¹

C14: from Latin relātiō a narration, a relation (between philosophical concepts)

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in / with relation to, with reference to; concerning:

   It's best to plan with relation to anticipated changes in one's earnings.

More idioms and phrases containing relation

see poor relation ; relative (in relation) to .

Example Sentences

Neither Olmedo’s order nor the prosecution’s sanction motion mentioned the church in relation to the incidents with the jurors.

From Los Angeles Times

In relation to this separate incident, on 4 August, he faces charges of violence and criminal damage.

From BBC

On Sunday, an Israeli strike targeted a building in the densely populated Ras el-Nabaa neighborhood, killing Mohammed Afif, the head of Hezbollah’s media relations office, along with three other people, according to Lebanese health authorities.

From Los Angeles Times

Flores opened three different bank accounts in Sawusch’s name and used funds to pay for his and Moore’s personal expenses and to finance his nascent public relations company.

From Los Angeles Times

Authorities had knowledge of two suspects in relation to the plot, the newspaper reported, but it is not known if they were arrested or fled the country.

From BBC

Related Words

• relationship