Meaning & use
affinity
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Meanings
nounsingular
A natural liking, attraction, or feeling of connection toward a person, thing, or activity.
Grammar: Usually singular with an article; followed by 'for' (liking) or 'with' (shared connection): an affinity for music.
Patterns
- have an affinity for something
- feel an affinity with someone
- a natural affinity
She has always had an affinity for languages and learned them easily.
He felt an immediate affinity with his new colleagues.
nounsingularformal
A close similarity or relationship between two things, such as languages, ideas, or cultures.
Grammar: Used with 'between' or 'with': an affinity between the two traditions; more formal than sense 1.
Patterns
- an affinity between two things
- an affinity with something
Scholars have noted the affinity between the two ancient languages.
His later novels show a clear affinity with early folk storytelling.
nounsingulartechnicalchemistrybiology
In chemistry and biology, a natural tendency of substances or molecules to combine with or attach to each other.
Grammar: Technical use; followed by 'for': oxygen has an affinity for hemoglobin.
Patterns
- an affinity for a substance
- have an affinity
Carbon has a strong affinity for oxygen, which is why fuels burn.
The drug works because of its affinity for certain receptors in the brain.
Word forms
| plural | affinities |
|---|
Common combinations
- a natural affinity
- He shows a natural affinity for working with animals.
- have an affinity for
- Good designers often have an affinity for simple, clear shapes.
- feel an affinity with
- She feels a strong affinity with the culture of her grandparents.
- an affinity between
- There is a clear affinity between jazz and the traditional music of West Africa.
Synonyms and how they differ
- fondness
- Fondness is simple affection or liking; affinity suggests the liking feels natural or almost instinctive.
- rapport
- Rapport is a good two-way relationship between people; affinity can be one-sided and applies to things and ideas as well.
- kinship
- Kinship stresses a shared nature or common origin, often used for groups or cultures rather than personal taste.
Opposites
Word family
- affined adjective
- Related or connected; rare outside technical writing.
Commonly confused: affinity or infinity?
affinity vs infinity
Infinity means endlessness or something without limits. Affinity means a natural liking or connection.
Practice
She has a real affinity ___ animals; she has kept pets since childhood.
Choose one answer.
The fixed pattern for a natural liking is 'affinity for something'. 'With' appears in 'an affinity with someone', used for a felt connection rather than a liking toward.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “affinity”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.