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What are the differences between the words 'relationship' and 'connection?'

This is what I found in a dictionary: "A connection is a relationship between two things, people, or groups." Then, are they just the same? Is there any difference between a relationship and a connection that is used to indicate something between two people?

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  • Did you look them up in a dictionary? What did you find?
    – AIQ
    Oct 23, 2019 at 4:51
  • This is written in a dictionary: "A connection is a relationship between two things, people, or groups." Then, are they just the same? Is there any difference between a relationship and a connection that is used to indicate something between two people?
    – Hyunju Kim
    Oct 23, 2019 at 5:09
  • 1
    Including your research effort in the question improves it. Users are more willing to answer questions that show research effort. I edited your question to include your finding.
    – AIQ
    Oct 23, 2019 at 5:46

2 Answers 2

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A connection between X and Y usually means one party can alter the state of the other party somehow, or deliver things quickly (such as information or supplies).

A relationship between X and Y simply means X and Y share some attributes, or possibly other things if X and Y are people. X and Y might have a relationship but not a connection (e.g. John and Mark are Americans, but they live in other sides of the country and have never met, they are not connected).

The word connection is used if you can draw a line between two things. This scheme is often visually used to represent a relationship and hence sometimes connection is used synonymously with relationship.

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  • @ Lawrence.It is a complex question to be answerd.You have answered well.I struggled very hard to answer this question.Will you please have a look at my answer and comment..I am upvoting your answer
    – Jvlnarasimharao
    Oct 23, 2019 at 15:45
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I have referred to some on line dictionaries.connection and relationship seem to be synonymous and interchangeable in certain contexts.But they are not interchangeable some contexts.

India and America have a good relationship for the last 70 years.We can not say they have a good connection

The thieves have been arrested in connection with a robbery.

we can not use relationship year.

I have given some examples below to show the difference.

Relationship may refer to the connection because of blood or friendship.

How are you related?

We are cousins

How are you connected?

We make research together.

They have connections with the thieves.

Connection may be positive or negative. we may have connection due to a bad a cause or a good cause.

I think relationship is usually positive.

We have usualy relationship for a good cause

Here are two links which help to know the difference or similarity between relationship and connection

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/amp/english/relationship

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/connection

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