as ‧ so ‧ ci ‧ a ‧ tion S3 W1 /əˌsəʊsiˈeɪʃ ə n, əˌsəʊʃi- $ əˌsoʊ-/ BrE AmE noun
1 . [countable] an organization that consists of a group of people who have the same aims, do the same kind of work etc:
the Association of Master Builders
⇨ ↑ housing association
2 . [uncountable and countable] a relationship with a particular person, organization, group etc
association with
his close association with the Green Party
3 . in association with somebody/something made or done with another person, organization etc:
concerts sponsored by the Arts Council in association with local businesses
4 . [countable] a connection or relationship between two events, ideas, situations etc
association between
the strong association between the disease and middle-aged women
5 . [countable] a feeling or memory that is related to a particular place, event, word etc:
Scotland has all kinds of happy associations for me.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ organization a group of people, companies, or countries, which is set up for a particular purpose:
Greenpeace is an international organization that protects the environment.
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the World Health Organization
▪ institution a large important organization such as a bank, church, or university:
The University is an important academic institution.
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financial institutions such as banks
▪ association an organization for people in a particular profession, sport, or activity, which officially represents its members – often used in names:
I met a representative of the National Association of Teachers.
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the Football Association
▪ party an organization of people with the same political aims which you can vote for in elections:
Which political party do you support?
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He voted for the Republican Party’s candidate.
▪ body an important group of people who make the rules and advise people about what should be allowed:
the sport’s governing body
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The government has set up an advisory body.
▪ club/society an organization for people who share an interest, for example a sport:
We belong to a tennis club.
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I joined the university film society.
▪ union an organization formed by workers in order to protect their rights:
The union ordered its members out on strike.
▪ charity an organization which collects money to help people who are poor, sick etc and does not make any profit for itself:
She has raised a lot of money for local charities.
▪ quango British English disapproving an organization set up by the government, which has official power but whose members have not been elected:
the amount of money that is wasted on government quangos