relation

UK: /rɪˈleɪʃ^ən/ US: /rɪˈleɪʃən/ ,(ri lā′shən)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

re•la•tion /rɪˈleɪʃən/   n. 

1. association between or among things;
   connection;
   relationship:
   [uncountable] the relation between cause and effect.
2. relations, [plural]
   • the different connections or dealings between peoples, countries, etc.:
     foreign relations; business relations.
   • sexual intercourse.
3. a person who is related by blood or marriage;
   relative:
   [countable] The groom shook hands with his bride's relations.

Idioms

4. Idioms in or with relation to, with reference to;
   concerning:
   What is her role in relation to the work of our division?

re•la•tion•al, adj. See -lat-¹.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

re•la•tion  (ri lā′shən), n. 

1. an existing connection;
   a significant association between or among things:
   the relation between cause and effect.
2. relations:
   • the various connections between peoples, countries, etc.:
     foreign relations.
   • the various connections in which persons are brought together:
     business and social relations.
   • sexual intercourse.
3. the mode or kind of connection between one person and another, between an individual and God, etc.
4. connection between persons by blood or marriage.
5. a person who is related by blood or marriage;
   relative:
   his wife's relations.
6. the act of relating, narrating, or telling;
   narration.
7. [Law.] a principle whereby effect is given to an act done at one time as if it had been done at a previous time.
8. [Math.]
   • a property that associates two quantities in a definite order, as equality or inequality.
   • a single- or multiple-valued function.
9. in or with relation to, with reference to;
   concerning:
   It's best to plan with relation to anticipated changes in one's earnings.

• Latin relātiōn- (stem of relātiō). See relate, -ion
• Middle English relacion 1350–1400

re•la′tion•less, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. relationship; tie, link.
• 2. a, b. association.
• 4. relationship, kinship.
• 6. recitation, recital, description.

Antonyms

• 1. independence.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

relation / rɪˈleɪʃən/ noun

1. the state or condition of being related or the manner in which things are related
2. connection by blood or marriage; kinship
3. a person who is connected by blood or marriage; relative; kinsman
4. reference or regard (esp in the phrase inorwith relation to)
5. the position, association, connection, or status of one person or thing with regard to another or others
6. the act of relating or narrating
7. an account or narrative
8. the principle by which an act done at one time is regarded in law as having been done antecedently
9. an association between ordered pairs of objects, numbers, etc, such as … is greater than …
10. the set of ordered pairs whose members have such an association

Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin relātiō a narration, a relation (between philosophical concepts)