affinity Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun (immunology) the attraction between an antigen and an antibody
  2. noun (anthropology) kinship by marriage or adoption; not a blood relationship
  3. noun (biology) state of relationship between organisms or groups of organisms resulting in resemblance in structure or structural parts
    phylogenetic relation.
    • in anatomical structure prehistoric man shows close affinity with modern humans
  4. noun a close connection marked by community of interests or similarity in nature or character
    kinship.
    • found a natural affinity with the immigrants
    • felt a deep kinship with the other students
    • anthropology's kinship with the humanities
  5. noun the force attracting atoms to each other and binding them together in a molecule
    chemical attraction.
    • basic dyes have an affinity for wool and silk
  6. noun inherent resemblance between persons or things
  7. noun a natural attraction or feeling of kinship
    • an affinity for politics
    • the mysterious affinity between them
    • James's affinity with Sam

WordNet

Af*fin"i*ty noun
Etymology
OF. afinité, F. affinité, L. affinites, fr. affinis. See Affined.
Wordforms
plural Affinities
Definitions
  1. Relationship by marriage (as between a husband and his wife's blood relations, or between a wife and her husband's blood relations); -- in contradistinction to consanguinity, or relationship by blood; -- followed by with, to, or between.
    Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh. 1 Kings iii. 1.
  2. Kinship generally; close agreement; relation; conformity; resemblance; connection; as, the affinity of sounds, of colors, or of languages.
    There is a close affinity between imposture and credulity. Sir G. C. Lewis.
  3. Companionship; acquaintance. Obs.
    About forty years past, I began a happy affinity with William Cranmer. Burton.
  4. (Chem.) That attraction which takes place, at an insensible distance, between the heterogeneous particles of bodies, and unites them to form chemical compounds; chemism; chemical or elective affinity or attraction.
  5. (Nat. Hist.) A relation between species or highe groups dependent on resemblance in the whole plan of structure, and indicating community of origin.
  6. (Spiritualism) A superior spiritual relationship or attraction held to exist sometimes between persons, esp. persons of the opposite sex; also, the man or woman who exerts such psychical or spiritual attraction.

Webster 1913