affinity

affinity — noun

1. a natural feeling that you connect easily with a person, group, or activity beca

1.nounC1
Definition

a natural feeling that you connect easily with a person, group, or activity because it seems to match your character, interests, or taste.

Example

Nina felt an immediate affinity with the quiet girl reading beside her.

affinity with + person

Even as a child, Leo showed an affinity for maps and train timetables.

affinity for + interest

Common collocations
  • feel an affinity with someone
  • have an affinity for music
  • develop an affinity for a place
  • natural affinity
  • share an affinity for stories
Synonyms
  • liking

    simpler and weaker; it does not suggest any deeper bond

  • sympathy

    focuses more on understanding another person's feelings

  • rapport

    usually refers to an easy relationship built through interaction

  • kinship

    often sounds deeper and closer, with a sense of shared nature

Antonyms
  • aversion

    a strong feeling of dislike or avoidance

  • distance

    a lack of emotional closeness or easy connection

Grammar Patterns

affinity for something

affinity with someone

Usage Note

Usually followed by 'for' with interests, places, or activities, and by 'with' for people or groups you naturally click with. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about resemblance between things rather than personal liking.

Common Mistakes

She has an affinity to old jazz records.
She has an affinity for old jazz records.
use 'for' with things you naturally like.
I feel affinity for my brother because he is family.
I feel affection for my brother because he is family.
'affinity' suggests a natural connection, often through shared character or interests, not simple family love.

2. a clear likeness between two things in the way they are shaped, made, or develop

2.nounC1
Definition

a clear likeness between two things in the way they are shaped, made, or develop.

Example

Researchers found an affinity between Korean and Japanese in verb order.

affinity between + two things

The blue-and-white plates show an affinity with old Dutch pottery.

affinity with + earlier style

Common collocations
  • affinity between languages
  • affinity with older designs
  • clear affinity
  • structural affinity
  • show an affinity with
Synonyms
  • similarity

    the broad everyday word for things being alike

  • resemblance

    very close in meaning; often used for visible likeness

  • parallel

    suggests that two things develop in comparable ways

  • correspondence

    more formal; often used for matching parts or features

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

affinity between A and B

affinity with something

Usage Note

Most often appears with 'between' when both things are named, and with 'with' when one thing is said to resemble an earlier style, system, or work. Distinguish from sense 1, which includes personal attraction or liking.

Common Mistakes

There is an affinity to these two paintings.
There is an affinity between these two paintings.
use 'between' when both things being compared are named.
I have an affinity between jazz and blues.
I see an affinity between jazz and blues.
people 'have an affinity for' things they like, but they 'see an affinity between' things that resemble each other.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All five words suggest some kind of connection, but they point to different kinds. 'Affinity' is the broadest useful word here: it describes a natural pull towards a person, group, art form, or idea, often because something feels like a good match for you. 'Liking' is simpler and weaker; you can like jazz without feeling any deeper bond with it. 'Sympathy' stresses understanding another person's feelings, especially in a difficult situation. 'Rapport' is an easy relationship built through conversation and trust. 'Kinship' often sounds deeper or more lasting, and may suggest a shared spirit or background. You might like a teacher's class on day one, feel affinity with her after hearing her values, and build rapport after working together all term.

affinity ↗liking ↗sympathy ↗rapportkinship

Common collocations

Phrases

  • an affinity for
  • an affinity with
  • an affinity between

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word came into English through French from Latin 'affinitas'. In Latin it first referred to closeness, especially family connection by marriage, and was built from 'affinis', meaning 'bordering on' or 'related'. English later widened the idea from family ties to a natural attraction between people or things, and then to close resemblance between things.