Origin: Latin suffix -tion
Relation has 7 different meanings across 1 category:
an abstraction belonging to or characteristic of two entities or parts together
"The mathematical relation between the radius and area of a circle reveals how doubling the size quadruples the space inside."
sexual activity between individuals, especially the insertion of a man's penis into a woman's vagina until orgasm and ejaculation occur
"The couple decided to have relations after months of planning their future together."
an act of narration
"he was the hero according to his own relation"
"his endless recounting of the incident eventually became unbearable"
(law) the principle that an act done at a later time is deemed by law to have occurred at an earlier time
"his attorney argued for the relation back of the amended complaint to the time the initial complaint was filed"
(usually plural) mutual dealings or connections among persons or groups
"international relations"
The manner in which two things may be associated.
"The relation between the amount of study time and test scores was surprisingly weak, showing that hard work alone didn't guarantee better results."
In plain English: A relation is a connection between two things, people, or ideas.
"We discussed how our family relation to the new neighbor might affect the neighborhood watch program."
Usage: Use relation to describe how people or events are connected, such as family ties or the relationship between variables. Do not confuse it with relationship, which often implies a more personal bond rather than a simple association of facts.
The word "relation" entered English in the Middle Ages via Anglo-Norman and Old French, ultimately deriving from the Latin relātiō. It originally described the act or process of carrying something again, formed by combining a prefix meaning "again" with a verb meaning "to bear."