Association
UK /["/əˌsəʊsiˈeɪʃn//əˌsəʊʃiˈeɪʃn/"]/US /["/əˌsəʊsiˈeɪʃn//əˌsəʊʃiˈeɪʃn/"]/
Definition
an official group of people who have joined together for a particular purpose
In simple words: A connection or relationship between things or people.
Examples
- The association between diet and health is well-documented.
- He felt a strong association with the characters in the novel.
- She joined the local arts association to meet fellow artists.
- Many people have an association of summer with long, lazy days.
- The teacher encouraged an association of ideas during the discussion.
Usage notes
Use 'association' in formal contexts like academics or professional settings. It may not be appropriate in casual conversations.
Grammar pattern
association + with or between + objects/people
Memory hint
Think of 'A So-So relation' to remember that 'association' means a type of connection.
Collocations
- international
- local
- national
- meet
- association for
- clear
- close
- direct
- have
- form
- demonstrate
- by association
- in association with
- association between
- guilty by association
- tainted by association
- strong
- happy
- pleasant
- have
- hold
- evoke
- association for
- clear
- close
- direct
- have
- form
- demonstrate
- by association
- in association with
- association between
- guilty by association
- tainted by association
Synonyms
- organization
Antonyms
- disconnection
- dissociation
- separation
Common mistakes
- Confused with 'associative', which has a different meaning.
- Using 'association' when 'association by' is needed for specifying relationships.
- Misplacing the stress on the wrong syllable: 'as-so-ci-ation' instead of 'as-so-CI-a-tion'.