Definition of LIAISONS
- ️Tue Apr 01 2025
1
: a binding or thickening agent used in cooking
a butter and flour liaison
3
a
: communication for establishing and maintaining mutual understanding and cooperation (as between parts of an armed force)
b
: a person who establishes and maintains communication for mutual understanding and cooperation
4
: the pronunciation of an otherwise absent consonant sound at the end of the first of two consecutive words the second of which begins with a vowel sound and follows without pause
Did you know?
If you took French in school, you might remember that liaison is the word for the phenomenon that causes a silent consonant at the end of one word to sound like it begins the next word when that word begins with a vowel, so that a phrase like beaux arts sounds like \boh zahr\. We can thank French for the origin of the term, as well. Liaison comes from Middle French lier, meaning "to bind or tie." Other English senses of liaison apply it to all kinds of bonds—from people who work to connect different groups to the kind of relationship sometimes entered into by two people who are attracted to one another.
Synonyms
Examples of liaison in a Sentence
Today's army works on rotations; soldiers are deployed for about a year and then (in principle at least) they come home. When that happens, local liaisons and intelligence relationships must be rebuilt.
—
James K. Galbraith, Mother Jones, March/April 2006
I had known Korologos when I was Solicitor General, and he was the Nixon White House's liaison to the Senate. He was a great support.
—Robert H. Bork, The Tempting of America, 1990
Gossip columnists began to infer from Evelyn's disappearances that she was engaging in reckless liaisons, and her name was linked with dozens of men around town.
—E. L. Doctorow, Ragtime, (1974) 1975
She acts as a liaison between the police department and city schools. Administrators need to maintain better liaison with employees. Administrators need to establish a close liaison with employees. He regretted his liaison with a woman from the office.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Pentagon, State Department and others all use interagency liaisons to more closely coordinate and keep tabs on policy.
—Tara Copp, Twin Cities, 28 Mar. 2025
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's younger brother, Phil Hegseth, is currently serving in a prominent role at the Pentagon as a Department of Homeland Security liaison and senior adviser, Hegseth's office confirmed Thursday.
—Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025
Jennifer is the council liaison to a variety of city boards, among them the Downtown Naperville Alliance, the Transportation Advisory Board and the Naperville Environment and Sustainability Task Force.
—Naperville Sun, Chicago Tribune, 28 Mar. 2025
Susy's boss at Gallo, who used to be a professor at U.C. Davis, was always on the lookout for talent and came to her to offer a position that would involve being a liaison between the vineyard team and the winemaking team.
—Cathrine Todd, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for liaison
Word History
Etymology
French, from Middle French, from lier, from Old French
First Known Use
circa 1665, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of liaison was circa 1665
Browse Nearby Words
Cite this Entry
“Liaison.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/liaison. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.
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Last Updated: 1 Apr 2025 - Updated example sentences
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