Definition of AFFILIATES (original) (raw)
1
a
: to bring or receive into close connection as a member or branch
The medical school is affiliated with a hospital.
b
: to associate as a member
affiliates herself with the local club
2
: to trace the origin of
affiliated Shakespeare's "Hamlet" to earlier plays
: an affiliated person or organization
the network's local affiliates
Synonyms
Examples of affiliate in a Sentence
Verb
Their group does not affiliate itself with any political party. Noun
Two of the company's regional affiliates lost money in the past year. our local Humane Society is an affiliate of a national organization
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The journalists were working for local news outlet Al-Quds Today, a television channel affiliated with the Islamic Jihad militant group. —
Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 27 Dec. 2024 The journalists were working for the local news outlet Al-Quds Today, a television channel affiliated with the Islamic Jihad militant group. —Josef Federman and Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 26 Dec. 2024
In July 2013, Green joined the Utica Comets as head coach — the Canucks’ minor-league affiliate — and led them to the Calder Cup Final in 2015 with a young Jacob Markstrom in goal. —Julian McKenzie, The Athletic, 28 Dec. 2024 Delray Beach Fire Chief Ronald Martin told the NBC affiliate WPTV that there was a service call in the area but did not confirm if the truck was involved with the call. —James Powel, USA TODAY, 28 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for affiliate 
Word History
Etymology
Verb
probably from French affilier "to bring into close connection" (going back to Middle French, "to adopt as a son," borrowed from Medieval Latin affīliāre, from Latin ad- ad- + -fīliāre, verbal derivative of fīlius "son") + -ate entry 4 — more at feminine entry 1
Noun
derivative of affiliate entry 1
First Known Use
Verb
1767, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Noun
1793, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of affiliate was in 1767
Dictionary Entries Near affiliate
Cite this Entry
“Affiliate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/affiliate. Accessed 1 Jan. 2025.
Share
More from Merriam-Webster on affiliate
Last Updated: 31 Dec 2024 - Updated example sentences
Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!