Definition

1. Verb:

   • To officially join or connect an organization as a member or branch: To formally link a smaller group, institution, or person to a larger one.
   • To associate or connect oneself with a group or cause: To establish a formal or official relationship.

2. Noun:

   • A person or organization officially connected to a larger body: A member, branch, or associated entity.
   • A subsidiary or subordinate associate: An organization that is part of a network but retains some separate identity.

Examples of Usage

• Verb:
  • The local club voted to affiliate with the national association.
  • The research institute is affiliated with the university.
• Noun:
  • The television station is an affiliate of a major network.
  • She is a close affiliate of the political party.

Advanced Usage

• "to affiliate oneself with": To formally declare one's connection or allegiance to a group.
  • He chose to affiliate himself with the new professional guild.
• In a business context: Often describes a company that is controlled by or related to another through shareholding.
  • The report was filed by an overseas affiliate of the corporation.

Variants and Related Words

• Affiliation (n): The state of being formally connected or associated.
  • Her affiliation with the charity is well-known.
• Affiliated (adj): Being in a state of affiliation.
  • All affiliated members receive a newsletter.

Synonyms

• Associate (v/n): To connect or a person connected with another.
• Align (v): To bring into cooperation or agreement with a group.
• Branch (n): A local office or shop belonging to a larger organization.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Affiliate with: To form a connection or association with.
  • The startup decided to affiliate with a larger tech consortium for support.

Related Idioms

• No direct common idioms use "affiliate" as the core word. The concept is typically expressed directly (e.g., "an affiliate of," "in affiliation with").

Noun

1. a subsidiary or subordinate organization that is affiliated with another organization
   • network affiliates
2. a subordinate or subsidiary associate; a person who is affiliated with another or with an organization

Verb

1. join in an affiliation
   • The two colleges affiliated
   • They affiliated with a national group
2. keep company with; hang out with
   • He associates with strange people
   • She affiliates with her colleagues