relationship

American  

[ri-ley-shuhn-ship] / rɪˈleɪ ʃənˌʃɪp /

noun

1. a connection, association, or involvement.

   Synonyms:

   kinship, alliance, dependence

2. connection between persons by blood or marriage.

   Synonyms:

   consanguinity, affinity

3. an emotional or other connection between people.

   the relationship between teachers and students.

4. a sexual involvement; affair.

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relationship British  

/ rɪˈleɪʃənʃɪp /

noun

1. the state of being connected or related

2. association by blood or marriage; kinship

3. the mutual dealings, connections, or feelings that exist between two parties, countries, people, etc

   a business relationship

4. an emotional or sexual affair or liaison

5. logic maths another name for relation

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Related Words

Relationship, kinship refer to connection with others by blood or by marriage. Relationship can be applied to connection either by birth or by marriage: relationship to a ruling family. Kinship generally denotes common descent and implies a more intimate connection than relationship: the ties and obligations of kinship.

Other Word Forms

• prerelationship noun

Etymology

Origin of relationship

First recorded in 1735–45; relation + -ship

Example Sentences

"I didn't want people to hear the nitty-gritties of our relationship."

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

Saying you can’t afford something when that isn’t true, for example, can unnecessarily harm a child’s relationship with money in the long-term.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 4, 2026

Weaponize that relationship and they will look for alternatives.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

But Myela describes his feelings towards Simeone as being like a "toxic relationship".

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

Ethnomusicology, at its foundation, examines the relationship between music and culture.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin

Related Words

• accord
• affair
• communication
• contact
• exchange
• liaison
• link
• marriage
• rapport
• relation
• tie