# affiliation

/əˌfɪɫiˈeɪʃən/ (US) · /ɐfˌɪlɪˈeɪʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/affiliation
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. formal connection

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a formal connection or membership with a group, such as a political party or a religion.

For teachers: the state of being formally connected or associated with a larger body, such as a political, religious, or professional organisation.

- He was asked about his political affiliation during the interview for the government job.
- The researcher maintained a strict professional distance to ensure that her political affiliation did not bias the outcome of the study.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'with'.

### 2. organisational link

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Academic

a link between two organisations where one is a member of the other.

For teachers: a formal relationship between two organisations, typically where a smaller entity is a member of or subordinate to a larger umbrella group.

- The local hospital has a formal affiliation with the city's medical university.
- The college's affiliation with the national research council provided students with access to exclusive laboratory facilities and funding opportunities.

### 3. legal paternity

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Formal

the legal process of deciding who the father of a child is.

For teachers: the legal establishment of a child's parentage, specifically paternity.

- The court issued an affiliation order to ensure the father paid for the child's care.
- The legal proceedings were delayed while the court awaited the results of the DNA test required for the affiliation order.

## Examples

- She has a strong affiliation with the local university.
- The candidate was asked to disclose any past political affiliation before the public debate began.
- The research institute maintains a close affiliation with several international laboratories to facilitate the exchange of sensitive data and specialized equipment.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.