association

An organized group of people who share an interest or work toward the same goal.

• She joined the local tennis association.
• The association meets every month.
• Several teachers formed a new professional association.

Similar words: organization, society

Common phrases: local association, professional association, join an association

A connection between two things, often because they happen together or make you think of each other.

• There is an association between sleep and mood.
• That smell has a strong association with summer.
• The study found no association with age.

How to use it: an association between A and B (Researchers found an association between stress and poor sleep.); an association with something (The color has an association with danger.)

Similar words: connection, link, relationship

Common phrases: association between things, strong association, association with something

Spending time with particular people or being involved with them.

• His association with the gang worried his parents.
• She ended her association with those business partners.
• Their long association began at university.

How to use it: association with someone (Her association with the artists lasted many years.)

Similar words: contact, involvement

Common phrases: association with someone, close association, long association