Relationship

Definition

The noun "relationship" refers to the state of being connected, associated, or involved with someone or something. It can denote personal or professional connections, romantic partnerships, family ties, or logical/causal links between concepts, variables, or phenomena.

Parts of Speech

• Noun

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /rɪˈleɪʃənˌʃɪp/
• Respelling: ri‑LAY‑shən‑ship

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /rɪˈleɪʃənʃɪp/
• Respelling: ri‑LAY‑shən‑ship

Etymology

"Relationship" forms from the base word relation + the noun‑forming suffix ‑ship, first recorded in English in the early 18th century. Relation traces back to Old French relacion and Latin relātiō, meaning “bringing back, report,” from referre (“to carry back”).

Derivatives

• Relational (adjective)
• Interrelationship (noun)
• Relationship‑building (noun)
• Relatedness (noun)
• Relationship status (compound noun)

Synonyms

• Connection
• Association
• Bond
• Liaison
• Affiliation

Antonyms

• Separation
• Isolation
• Disconnection
• Estrangement
• Divorce

Usage

"Relationship" is widely used in social sciences, everyday speech, and technical contexts. Examples: "Their professional relationship spans over a decade," or "Researchers studied the relationship between rainfall and crop yield."

Related Terms

• Relation: A connection or correspondence between things.
• Partnership: A collaborative association between parties.
• Correlation: A statistical measure describing how variables move together.

Detailed Definitions

Noun

• A connection or association between people, groups, or entities: Encompasses friendships, family ties, business links, and diplomatic dealings.
  • Example: "She values her close relationship with her siblings."
• A romantic partnership: A dating or marital bond.
  • Example: "They have been in a committed relationship for five years."
• A kinship or familial tie: The way individuals are related by blood or marriage.
  • Example: "Adoption establishes a legal parent‑child relationship."
• A logical, causal, or statistical link between concepts or variables:
  • Example: "The graph illustrates the relationship between temperature and pressure."