Relation
/rɪˈleɪʃən/
Definitions
2 meaningsA connection or association between things or people.
/rɪˈleɪʃən/
A connection or association between two or more things.
There is a strong relation between exercise and good health.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're drawing lines between things that are connected, like how you're related to your family members. A relation is simply showing how things or people are linked to each other.
👶 For kids: It's like when things or people are connected or linked to each other, like your mom is your relation because she's part of your family.
More Examples
The report detailed the historical relation between the two countries.
Their familial relation was quite complex.
How It's Used
"The study examined the relation between poverty and crime rates."
"She has a close relation with her aunt."
"In mathematics, a relation can describe a set of ordered pairs."
A person connected to another by blood or marriage; a relative.
/rɪˈleɪʃən/
A family member; a relative.
She's going to visit her relations in Italy next month.
💡 Simply: Think about your family – your mom, dad, siblings, and cousins are all your relations. They're the people you're connected to by blood or marriage!
👶 For kids: A relation is a member of your family, like your aunt or your grandpa!
More Examples
He has many relations living in the countryside.
His relations came to the family reunion.
How It's Used
"I'm visiting my relations over the holidays."
"He traced his relations back several generations."
Idioms & expressions
in relation to
Concerning; with regard to.
"The study focused on climate change in relation to sea levels."
have a relation with
To be connected to someone or something.
"The two countries have a good relation with each other."
From Middle English *relacioun*, from Old French *relacion* or directly from Latin *relatio* ('a bringing back, report, connection'), from *relatus*, past participle of *referre* ('to bring back, report, relate').
The word 'relation' has been used in English since the 14th century, initially to denote a report or account.
Memory tip
Think of a 'relation' as a link – like a chain connecting two things.