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Definition of affinity noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

affinity

noun
 
/əˈfɪnəti/
 
/əˈfɪnəti/
(plural affinities)
(formal)
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  1. [singular] affinity (for/with somebody/something) | affinity (between A and B) a strong feeling that you understand somebody/something and like them or it synonym rapport
    • Sam was born in the country and had a deep affinity with nature.
    • Humans have a special affinity for dolphins.
    Extra Examples
    • He has a natural affinity with numbers.
    • His work shows some affinity with current trends in design.
    • I felt a great affinity with the people of the Highlands.
    • Jo feels a great affinity towards Pamela.
    • Most children will show an affinity for something, whether this is music, numbers or drawing.
    • She felt an affinity with earlier poets.
    • It's important that you share an affinity with your husband.
    • There was a natural affinity between the two women.
    Topics Family and relationshipsc2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • close
    • great
    • real
    … of affinity
    • degree
    • level
    verb + affinity
    • feel
    • have
    • share
    preposition
    • affinity between
    • affinity for
    • affinity towards/​toward
    See full entry
  2. [uncountable, countable] affinity (with somebody/something) | affinity (between A and B) a close relationship between two people or things that have similar qualities, structures or features
    • There is a close affinity between Italian and Spanish.
    Extra Examples
    • In his poems he showed some affinity with Coleridge.
    • There is a close affinity between these two species.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • close
    • great
    • real
    … of affinity
    • degree
    • level
    verb + affinity
    • feel
    • have
    • share
    preposition
    • affinity between
    • affinity for
    • affinity towards/​toward
    See full entry
  3. Word OriginMiddle English (in the sense ‘relationship by marriage’): via Old French from Latin affinitas, from affinis ‘related’ (literally ‘bordering on’), from ad- ‘to’ + finis ‘border’.
See affinity in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee affinity in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
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