Origin: Latin suffix -tion
Affiliation has 3 different meanings across 1 category:
a social or business relationship
"a valuable financial affiliation"
"he was sorry he had to sever his ties with other members of the team"
"many close associations with England"
the act of becoming formally connected or joined
"welcomed the affiliation of the research center with the university"
The relationship resulting from affiliating one thing with another.
"The university's new affiliation with the research institute allows students access to advanced laboratories."
In plain English: Affiliation is when you officially belong to or are connected with an organization, group, or cause.
"The doctor listed his hospital affiliation on her medical card."
Usage: Use affiliation to describe an official connection or membership between organizations, such as joining a professional association. It is often confused with alliance when referring to formal partnerships rather than simple organizational ties.
The word "affiliation" comes from the Old French term affiliation, which was borrowed into English in its current sense. It originally described the act of making someone a son or daughter, derived from Latin roots meaning "to attach to."