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
5
: reference, respect
in relation to
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)
: sexual intercourse
Synonyms
- commerce
- dealings
- interaction
- intercourse
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The incident led to tense international relations.
Recent Examples on the Web The Memphis man accused in the kidnapping and murder of Eliza Fletcher made a court appearance on Monday for a misdemeanor theft count just days after being charged in relation to an alleged 2021 rape and kidnapping of another woman. 
Fox News, 12 Sep. 2022 Las Vegas police confirmed officers served search warrants in relation to German's death but did not immediately provide any additional information. Paradise Afshar And Travis Caldwell, CNN, 8 Sep. 2022 Mario Abston was also arrested Sunday on unrelated drug charges but has not been charged in relation to Fletcher's disappearance. Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 7 Sep. 2022 Justin Yoon, 16, is also facing the same charges in relation to the killing. Chris Harris, Peoplemag, 6 Sep. 2022 The Legislature responded by requiring that felons who completed their sentences first pay all fees owed in relation to their crimes. al, 6 Sep. 2022 The dominant use of williwaw throughout the 19th century was in relation to storms around Cape Horn, including the Straits of Magellan. David Reamer, Anchorage Daily News, 4 Sep. 2022 The ruler seen in the image is to give a sense of their size in relation to other objects. Arkansas Online, 2 Sep. 2022 Lone Star said in a statement that the tribunal's ruling vindicates its claim that South Korean regulators violated domestic and international law in relation to the company's multiyear effort to sell its controlling interest in KEB. Chron, 1 Sep. 2022 See More
Fox News, 12 Sep. 2022 Las Vegas police confirmed officers served search warrants in relation to German's death but did not immediately provide any additional information. Paradise Afshar And Travis Caldwell, CNN, 8 Sep. 2022 Mario Abston was also arrested Sunday on unrelated drug charges but has not been charged in relation to Fletcher's disappearance. Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 7 Sep. 2022 Justin Yoon, 16, is also facing the same charges in relation to the killing. Chris Harris, Peoplemag, 6 Sep. 2022 The Legislature responded by requiring that felons who completed their sentences first pay all fees owed in relation to their crimes. al, 6 Sep. 2022 The dominant use of williwaw throughout the 19th century was in relation to storms around Cape Horn, including the Straits of Magellan. David Reamer, Anchorage Daily News, 4 Sep. 2022 The ruler seen in the image is to give a sense of their size in relation to other objects. Arkansas Online, 2 Sep. 2022 Lone Star said in a statement that the tribunal's ruling vindicates its claim that South Korean regulators violated domestic and international law in relation to the company's multiyear effort to sell its controlling interest in KEB. Chron, 1 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English relacion, from Anglo-French, from Latin relation-, relatio, from referre (past participle relatus) to carry back
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing relation
Kids Definition
relation
noun
re·la·tion ri-ˈlā-shən
1
: connection sense 2, relationship
Doctors studied the relation between sleep and health.
2
: a related person : relative
3
: reference sense 2, respect
He'll speak in relation to this matter.
4
relations plural : the interaction between two or more people, groups, or countries
foreign relations
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
relations plural : sexual intercourse
testified that relations had occurred Newsweek
Newsweekrelation
noun
1
as in interaction
relations plural doings between individuals or groups relations between the rival newspapers remained friendly despite their competition for the same stories Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- interaction
- dealings
- intercourse
- interrelationship
- commerce
- companionship
- cross-fertilization
- company
- cross-pollination
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- nonintercourse
2
as in relative
a person connected with another by blood or marriage he and I are relations on my mother's side Synonyms & Similar Words
- relative
- cousin
- family
- kin
- kinsman
- folk
- house
- race
- people
- lineage
- kindred
- tribe
- in-law
- blood
- clan
- stock
- kinswoman
- kissing cousin
- kinsfolk
- line
- kinfolk
- kinfolks
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- nonrelative
3
as in relationship
the fact or state of having something in common there's no relation between you losing your favorite baseball hat and your team losing the game Synonyms & Similar Words
- relationship
- kinship
- association
- connection
- correlation
- linkage
- affinity
- bearing
- similarity
- liaison
- resemblance
- link
- interrelation
- relevance
- pertinence
- bond
- tie
- affiliation
- union
- materiality
- accordance
- correspondence
- alliance
- agreement
- identicalness
- likeness
- alikeness
- conformity
- congruity
- sameness
- community
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- variance
- variability
- incompatibility
- incongruence
- incongruity
- incongruousness
4
as in association
the state of having shared interests or efforts (as in social or business matters) our intramural baseball team had a relation with the other baseball teams in the area Synonyms & Similar Words
- relationship
- association
- partnership
- collaboration
- connection
- cooperation
- affiliation
- interaction
- union
- dealings
- liaison
- alliance
- merger
- interrelation
- solidarity
- confederation
- hookup
- kinship
- integration
- exchange
- interconnection
- reciprocity
- unification
- tie-up
- symbiosis
- intimacy
- unity
- incorporation
- affinity
- linkup
- mutualism
- oneness
- rapport
- attachment
- sympathy
- business
- togetherness
- closeness
- companionship
- company
- league
- cahoots
- bed
- colleagueship
- fellowship
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dissociation
- dissolution
- separation
- division
- breakup
- alienation
- split
- severance
- divorce
- disaffiliation
- parting
- estrangement
- disunion
5
as in sex
relations plural sexual union involving penetration of the vagina by the penis a law that prohibits relations between close relatives Synonyms & Similar Words
- sex
- intercourse
- coupling
- mating
- commerce
- sex act
- sexual relations
- copulation
- making love
- coition
- sexual intercourse
- coitus
- copulating
- getting it on
- lovemaking
- sexuality
- congress
- safe sex
- breeding
- fornication
- carnality
- insemination
- dalliance
- whoopee
- hanky-panky