relation
noun
re·la·tion
ri-ˈlā-shən 
1
: the act of telling or recounting : account
2
: an aspect or quality (such as resemblance) that connects two or more things or parts as being or belonging or working together or as being of the same kind
the relation of time and space
specifically
: a property (such as one expressed by is equal to, is less than, or is the brother of) that holds between an ordered pair of objects
3
: the referring by a legal fiction of an act to a prior date as the time of its taking effect
—usually used with back
4
a(1)
: a person connected by consanguinity or affinity : relative
(2)
: a person legally entitled to a share of the property of an intestate
b
: relationship by consanguinity or affinity : kinship
6
: the attitude or stance which two or more persons or groups assume toward one another
race relations
7
a
: the state of being mutually or reciprocally interested (as in social or commercial matters)
b
relations plural
(1)
: dealings, intercourse
foreign relations
(2)
Examples of relation in a Sentence
The incident led to tense international relations.
Recent Examples on the Web
Less impact on SpaceX and X Musk’s other major business, SpaceX, likely wouldn’t have had significantly different relations with the federal government no matter who is elected.
—
Cnn.com, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
The question is whether high-level career officials will follow the best practices of civil-military relations and give their candid advice to Trump and his senior political appointees even when that advice is unwanted.
—Peter D. Feaver, Foreign Affairs, 6 Nov. 2024
David Thomas, former director of congressional relations for the Federal Trade Commission, will work on the account.
—Taylor Giorno, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024
She is expected to largely follow Biden’s foreign relations path with a few tweaks of her own.
—Byprarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 3 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for relation 
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Cnn.com, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
The question is whether high-level career officials will follow the best practices of civil-military relations and give their candid advice to Trump and his senior political appointees even when that advice is unwanted.
—Peter D. Feaver, Foreign Affairs, 6 Nov. 2024
David Thomas, former director of congressional relations for the Federal Trade Commission, will work on the account.
—Taylor Giorno, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024
She is expected to largely follow Biden’s foreign relations path with a few tweaks of her own.
—Byprarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 3 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for relation
Dictionary Entries Near relation
Cite this Entry
“Relation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/relation. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
relation
noun
re·la·tion
ri-ˈlā-shən
1
: the act of telling or describing
2
: connection sense 2, relationship
the relation of employer to employee
3
: a related person : relative
4
: reference entry 1 sense 2, respect
in relation to this matter
5
a
: the state of sharing an interest (as in social or business matters)
b
plural
: business or public affairs
good trade relations
foreign relations
c
plural
: dealings between persons or groups
improved his relations with his family
relational
adjective
-shnəl
-shən-ᵊl
Medical Definition
relation
noun
re·la·tion
ri-ˈlā-shən
1
: an aspect or quality (as resemblance or causality) that connects two or more things or parts as being or belonging or working together, as being of the same kind, or as being logically connected
the strong relation between genotype and phenotype—Anne M. Glazier et al.
Anne M. Glazier et al.2
: the attitude or stance which two or more persons or groups assume toward one another
race relations
3
a
: the state of being mutually or reciprocally interested (as in social matters)
b
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