association

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /əˌsəʊʃiˈeɪʃən/ or /əˌsəʊsiˈeɪʃən/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /əˌsoʊʃiˈeɪʃən/ or /əˌsoʊsiˈeɪʃən/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

Singular association

Plural associations

1. (countable) An association is a way that two things are similar, belong together, or are connected or related.

   I don't see any association between what happened to you and what happened to me.

   I suspect there is an association between the weather and the number who are sick.

2. (countable) An association is a group of people who have a common goal or interest.

   The NBA stands for the "National Basketball Association."

   I have been a member of the American Psychological Association and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

   All the teachers were at an association meeting.

3. (uncountable) Association is the when you associate (spend time with certain people).

   I'm afraid your association with those wild people will get you in trouble.

Related words

• associate
• associative
• associational