What does "affinity" mean?

1. (natural liking) a natural feeling that you understand or like someone or something very much. 2. (similarity) a close connection between two things because they have similar qualities or features. 3. (chemical attraction) the force that makes certain atoms or chemicals join together. 4. (computing) a setting that keeps a computer task running on the same processor to make it faster. 5. (relationship by marriage) a family relationship through marriage rather than by blood.

How do you use "affinity"?

Often used with the preposition 'for' or 'with'. Commonly used with 'between'.

affinity

US //əˈfɪnəti// UK //ɐfˈɪnɪti// affin·i·ty

1 natural liking (n.)
C1 Advanced Formal

a natural feeling that you understand or like someone or something very much.

a spontaneous or natural liking for or identification with something or someone.

Example

From a young age, she felt a strong affinity for classical music and spent hours practicing.

Example

The novelist's deep affinity for the rural landscape is evident in the lyrical way she describes the changing seasons.

Usage

Often used with the preposition 'for' or 'with'.
- aversion
- dislike
2 similarity (n.)
C1 Advanced Academic

a close connection between two things because they have similar qualities or features.

a similarity of characteristics suggesting a relationship, especially a resemblance in structure or origin.

Example

There is a clear affinity between the two languages, as many of their words share the same roots.

Example

Scholars have noted a stylistic affinity between the early works of these two painters, despite their different geographical backgrounds.

Usage

Commonly used with 'between'.
- difference
- disparity

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3 chemical attraction (n.)
C2 Proficiency Technical Science

the force that makes certain atoms or chemicals join together.

the tendency of certain substances to combine with others, forming chemical bonds or complexes.

Example

Carbon has a high affinity for oxygen, which is why it burns so easily.

Example

The researcher measured the binding affinity of the new drug to ensure it would target the correct receptors in the brain.
- attraction
- binding
4 computing (n.)
C2 Proficiency Technical Computing

a setting that keeps a computer task running on the same processor to make it faster.

the tendency or configuration to keep a specific process or task running on a particular CPU core to optimise cache performance.

Example

Setting the processor affinity helped the server handle the heavy traffic more efficiently.

Example

By adjusting the thread affinity, the developer was able to reduce latency in the high-frequency trading application.
- pinning
5 relationship by marriage (n.)
C2 Proficiency Formal Technical Law

a family relationship through marriage rather than by blood.

the relationship that a person has to the blood relatives of their spouse by virtue of the marriage.

Example

In many legal systems, affinity is treated differently than blood relationships regarding inheritance.

Example

The judge had to determine if the witness's relationship by affinity to the defendant constituted a conflict of interest.
- kinship
- consanguinity

Origin

From Middle English affinite, from Old French affinité. Ostensibly equivalent to affine + -ity.