af·fin·i·ty ( -f n -t )n. pl. af·fin·i·ties 1. A natural attraction, liking, or feeling of kinship. 2. Relationship by marriage. 3. An inherent similarity between persons or things. See Synonyms at likeness. 4. Biology A relationship or resemblance in structure between species that suggests a common origin. 5. Immunology The attraction between an antigen and an antibody. 6. Chemistry An attraction or force between particles that causes them to combine.
[Middle English affinite, from Old French afinite, from Latin aff nit s, from affnis, related by marriage; see affined.] Usage Note: In the sense of "attraction," affinity may be followed by of, between, or with. Thus one may speak of the close affinity of James and Samuel, or of the affinity between James and Samuel, or of James's affinity with Samuel. In its chemical use affinity is generally followed by for: a dye with an affinity for synthetic fabrics.·One might want to avoid using affinity as a simple synonym for liking since 62 percent of the Usage Panel rejects the example Her affinity for living in California led her to reject a chance to return to New York. Nevertheless, the more sophisticated tone inherent in this use of the word can lend an archness to certain contexts, as when Barbara Tuchman writes of Kaiser Wilhelm's "affinity for coarse physical jokes practiced upon his courtiers." This may be why 65 percent of the Usage Panel approved of this quotation when it was presented as an example. |
affinity Noun pl -ties 1. a feeling of closeness to and understanding of a person 2. a close similarity in appearance, structure, or quality 3. a chemical attraction [Latin affinis bordering on, related]
affinitythe condition of close relationship. Cf. consanguinity. See also marriage. See also: Relationship
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms | Noun | 1. | affinity - (immunology) the attraction between an antigen and an antibodyimmunology - the branch of medical science that studies the body's immune system | | 2. | affinity - (anthropology) kinship by marriage or adoption; not a blood relationshipanthropology - the social science that studies the origins and social relationships of human beings | | 3. | affinity - (biology) state of relationship between organisms or groups of organisms resulting in resemblance in structure or structural parts; "in anatomical structure prehistoric man shows close affinity with modern humans" | | 4. | affinity - a close connection marked by community of interests or similarity in nature or character; "found a natural affinity with the immigrants"; "felt a deep kinship with the other students"; "anthropology's kinship with the humanities"relation - an abstraction belonging to or characteristic of two entities or parts together rapport, resonance - a relationship of mutual understanding or trust and agreement between people sympathy - a relation of affinity or harmony between people; whatever affects one correspondingly affects the other; "the two of them were in close sympathy" | | 5. | affinity - the force attracting atoms to each other and binding them together in a molecule; "basic dyes have an affinity for wool and silk"force - (physics) the influence that produces a change in a physical quantity; "force equals mass times acceleration" | | 6. | affinity - inherent resemblance between persons or thingsresemblance - similarity in appearance or external or superficial details | | 7. | affinity - a natural attraction or feeling of kinship; "an affinity for politics"; "the mysterious affinity between them"; "James's affinity with Sam"attractiveness, attraction - the quality of arousing interest; being attractive or something that attracts; "her personality held a strange attraction for him" |
affinity noun 2. similarity, relationship, relation, connection, alliance, correspondence, analogy, resemblance, closeness, likeness, compatibility, kinship << OPPOSITE difference  Translations
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drug affinity
