relation
noun
re·la·tion
| \ ri-ˈlā-shən
\
\
Definition of relation
1
: the act of telling or recounting : account
2
: an aspect or quality (such as resemblance) that connects two or more things or parts as being or belonging or working together or as being of the same kind
the relation of time and space
specifically
: a property (such as one expressed by is equal to, is less than, or is the brother of) that holds between an ordered pair of objects
3
: the referring by a legal fiction of an act to a prior date as the time of its taking effect
—usually used with back
4a(1)
: a person connected by consanguinity or affinity : relative
(2)
: a person legally entitled to a share of the property of an intestate
b
: relationship by consanguinity or affinity : kinship
6
: the attitude or stance which two or more persons or groups assume toward one another
race relations
7a
: the state of being mutually or reciprocally interested (as in social or commercial matters)
b relations plural
(1)
: dealings, intercourse
foreign relations
(2)
: sexual intercourse
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Synonyms & Antonyms for relation
Synonyms
commerce, dealings, interaction, intercourse
Antonyms
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Examples of relation in a Sentence
The incident led to tense international relations.
sexual relations outside of marriage
Recent Examples on the Web
How important and how strong are the relations between the leadership of SAG-AFTRA and the DGA in order to have input into that process? — Jonathan Handel, The Hollywood Reporter, ""We Have a Lot of Work Ahead": SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris on Next Steps After Election Win (Q&A)," 30 Aug. 2019 Changing times and Saudi power Now there are growing signs of at least informal relations between Israel and many other Arab states. — David Mednicoff, The Conversation, "Why increasing Arab-Israeli closeness matters," 29 Aug. 2019 Kim Teehee, a former Obama Administration official who is now vice president of government relations for the Cherokee Nation, is its nominee to head to Washington. — Fortune, "Jeffrey Epstein’s Accusers Are Heard: The Broadsheet," 28 Aug. 2019 Clayton also served as vice president of external relations for the Detroit Super Bowl XL Host Committee, according to her bio on the commission website. — Paul Egan, Detroit Free Press, "Whitmer wants civil rights director ousted: These 8 people could decide his fate," 15 Aug. 2019 In 2016, to gain more information about the unsolved case, Robert Cyrenne, director of media relations for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police of Manitoba, tried tweeting about the details of the case in Kerrie’s imagined voice. — Andrew Boryga, sun-sentinel.com, "An 8-year-old girl vanished in 1984. Now there’s new hope to solve the mystery.," 5 Aug. 2019 Williamson previously served as director of business development for a national architectural and engineering firm, and as director of government relations for a national civil engineering company, both headquartered in Houston. — Roy Kent, Houston Chronicle, "Scenic Houston announces appointment of Claudia Williamson as interim president and CEO," 2 Aug. 2019 Waltz, a former Green Beret and member of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee, also weighs in on U.S. relations with Iran and North Korea. — Hal Boedeker, orlandosentinel.com, "Opioid crisis in Central Florida: Andrae Bailey talks to WFTV," 30 July 2019 Mexico’s new president shocks scientists with budget cuts and disparaging remarks The initially warm relations between Mexico’s academic community and the country’s new president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, have decidedly cooled. — Eva Frederick, Science | AAAS, "Top stories: Mite-proof bees, dark matter ‘bullets,’ and the tiny monkeys replanting the Amazon," 26 July 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'relation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for relation
relation
noun
English Language Learners Definition of relation
: the way in which two or more people, groups, countries, etc., talk to, behave toward, and deal with each other
: the way in which two or more people or things are connected
: a person who is a member of your family
See the full definition for relation in the English Language Learners Dictionary
relation
noun
re·la·tion
| \ ri-ˈlā-shən
\
\
Kids Definition of relation
1
: connection sense 2, relationship
Doctors studied the relation between sleep and health.
2
: a related person : relative
3
: reference sense 2, respect
He'll speak in relation to this matter.
4
relations plural
: the interaction between two or more people, groups, or countries
foreign relations
relation
noun
re·la·tion
| \ ri-ˈlā-shən
\
\
Medical Definition of relation
1
: an aspect or quality (as resemblance or causality) that connects two or more things or parts as being or belonging or working together, as being of the same kind, or as being logically connected
the strong relation between genotype and phenotype— Anne M. Glazier et al
2
: the attitude or stance which two or more persons or groups assume toward one another