Meaning & use
associates
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“associates” is a form of “associate”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounplural
People who work with you or are connected to you in business or an organization.
Grammar: Used as a plural noun; the singular is 'associate'.
Patterns
- business associates
- associates of someone
- someone's associates
She invited a few close associates to the meeting.
The police questioned his business associates about the deal.
He and his associates founded the company in 2010.
nounplural
Members of a group or organization who have fewer rights than full members.
Grammar: Often used in official names of groups, e.g., 'associates of the library'.
Patterns
- associates of an organization
- associate members
Associates of the museum get free entry to special exhibitions.
The associates voted on the new budget.
Word forms
| singular | associate |
|---|
Common combinations
- business associates
- He met his business associates for lunch.
- close associates
- Only her closest associates knew the truth.
- associates of the company
- The associates of the company were invited to the annual dinner.
Synonyms and how they differ
- colleagues
- Colleagues are people you work with, especially in a professional setting; associates can also mean business partners or members of a group.
- partners
- Partners often implies shared ownership or a closer business relationship; associates is broader and can include employees or affiliates.
Word family
- associate verb
- To connect someone or something with something else in your mind.
- association noun
- An organization of people with a common interest, or a connection between things.
Commonly confused: associates or associate's?
associates vs associate's
This is the possessive form, meaning 'belonging to an associate', e.g., 'my associate's office'. Do not confuse it with the plural 'associates'.
Practice
Choose the correct word: 'She discussed the project with her business ______.'
Choose one answer.
The plural 'associates' fits because it refers to multiple people. 'Associate' is singular and would need 'a' or 'an'. 'Associating' is a verb form, and 'association' is a singular noun meaning an organization.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “associates”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.