Definition of 'relation'

Word Frequency

relation

(rɪleɪʃən )

Word forms: plural relations

1. countable noun [usually plural]

Relations between people, groups, or countries are contacts between them and the way in which they behave towards each other.

Greece has established full diplomatic relations with Israel.

Relations between the two men became strained.

The company has a track record of good employee relations.

3. countable noun [usually singular]

If you talk about the relation of one thing to another, you are talking about the ways in which they are connected.

It is a question of the relation of ethics to economics. [+ of]

...the relation between power and knowledge. [+ between]

This theory bears no relation to reality. [+ to]

Synonyms: similarity, link, bearing, bond More Synonyms of relation

4. countable noun

Your relations are the members of your family.

...visits to friends and relations.

Jansher, another Khan from Peshawar, though no relation, dominated squash in the Nineties.

5. See also poor relation

See in relation to

More Synonyms of relation

Video: pronunciation of
relation

relation in British English

(rɪˈleɪʃən )

noun

the state or condition of being related or the manner in which things are related

connection by blood or marriage; kinship

a person who is connected by blood or marriage; relative; kinsman

reference or regard (esp in the phrase in or with relation to)

the position, association, connection, or status of one person or thing with regard to another or others

the act of relating or narrating

an account or narrative

8. law

the principle by which an act done at one time is regarded in law as having been done antecedently

9. law

the statement of grounds of complaint made by a relator

10. logic, mathematics

an association between ordered pairs of objects, numbers, etc, such as … is greater than …

the set of ordered pairs whose members have such an association

11. philosophy

a. See internal relation

b. See external relation

Word origin

C14: from Latin relātiō a narration, a relation (between philosophical concepts)

Word Frequency

relation in American English

(rɪˈleɪʃən )

noun

a narrating, recounting, or telling

what is narrated or told; account; recital

connection or manner of being connected or related, as in thought, meaning, etc.

connection of persons by blood, marriage, etc.; kinship

a person connected with another or others by blood, marriage, etc.; member of the same family; relative

6. [pl.]

the connections or dealings between or among persons in business or private affairs

sexual intercourse

the connections or dealings between or among groups, peoples, nations, states, etc.

foreign and trade relations

7. Law

the statement of a relator at whose complaint an action is begun

the referring of an act or proceeding to a time before its completion or enactment, as the time of its taking effect

Idioms:

in relation to

Word origin

ME relacion < MFr or L: MFr relation < L relatio: see relate

Examples of 'relation' in a sentence
relation

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The two countries have had no diplomatic relations since.The contemporary conflict between the competing demands of blood relations and people you actually like may also play a part.Wives are one thing, blood relations are another.In 2013 she glued herself to the window of a public relations company in a protest over fracking. Diplomatic relations between Colombia and Venezuela are already poor.Make sure you have good relations with the local planning officials.This brings progress at work and in family relations.The implications extend beyond trade into diplomatic relations and national security.Class relations will form one of the themes of the show.It seemed like they must have paid a public relations person to come up with this nonsense.