Affiliate means to officially connect or associate with a larger organization or group. When a local television station affiliates with a national network like NBC or ABC, it agrees to broadcast that network's programs in exchange for support and content. When a small business affiliates with a larger company, it forms a partnership where both benefit from working together.

An affiliate (the noun form) is the organization or person who has made this connection. For example, your local news station might be an affiliate of CBS.

You'll often see this word in business contexts. An affiliate program might let website owners earn money by recommending products: if someone clicks their special link and buys something, the affiliate gets a small payment. College sports teams are affiliated with their universities. Scout troops are affiliated with larger scouting organizations.

Affiliation (the noun) describes the connection itself. When filling out forms, you might be asked about your affiliations: which clubs, teams, or organizations you belong to. These affiliations help define your interests and commitments, showing which larger groups you've chosen to connect with.