liaisons

IPA/liˈeɪ.zɒn/
KK[liˈesˌɑnz]IPA/liˈeɪ.zɑːn/

liaisons — noun

  • liaisonssingular
  • liaisonsesplural

1. the exchange of information and ideas that helps different parts of an organizat

1.nounB2
Definition

the exchange of information and ideas that helps different parts of an organization, or different groups, coordinate their activities

Example

Lara managed all liaisons between the school and the health department.

liaisons between [group] and [group]

The project failed because proper liaisons with the local community were never set up.

Common collocations
  • close liaison
  • maintain liaison
  • establish liaison
  • direct liaison
Synonyms
  • communication

    broader — any exchange of information, not necessarily between organized groups

  • contact

    emphasizes being in touch but doesn't imply ongoing coordination

  • coordination

    narrower — focuses on organizing activities together rather than the communication itself

Grammar Patterns

liaisons between [group] and [group]

liaisons with [group]

in close liaison with [group]

Usage Note

When this sense is used in the singular ('liaison'), it usually describes the function or role itself rather than individual instances of contact. The plural form often refers to repeated contacts or multiple channels of communication.

Common Mistakes

We need better liaison between teams.
We need better liaisons between teams.
when talking about multiple ongoing exchanges of information, the plural 'liaisons' is often more natural, though singular 'liaison' is also acceptable as an uncountable noun.

2. a person appointed to maintain communication between different groups so that th

2.nounB2
Definition

a person appointed to maintain communication between different groups so that they can cooperate effectively

Example

Ayana and Mizuki work as liaisons between the aid groups and the UN headquarters.

work as liaisons between [group] and [group]

The company sent two liaisons to coordinate with the local factory owners.

Common collocations
  • appoint a liaison
  • serve as liaison
  • liaison officer
  • community liaison
Synonyms
  • intermediary

    more formal; often used in diplomatic or business contexts

  • go-between

    less formal; can imply informal or unofficial arrangements

  • contact

    broader — may just be a person you reach out to, without the ongoing coordination role

Grammar Patterns

a liaison between [group] and [group]

a liaison to [institution]

work as a liaison

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1: this sense refers to a person, not the communication itself. Common in official job titles such as 'community liaison' or 'parent liaison.'

Common Mistakes

I will liaison with the other team.
I will liaise with the other team.
'liaison' is a noun, not a verb. The verb form is 'liaise.'
She is a liaisons for the school.
She is a liaison for the school.
the singular 'liaison' is used for one person; 'liaisons' is the plural.

3. a secret romantic or sexual involvement between two people, especially when at l

3.nounB2
Definition

a secret romantic or sexual involvement between two people, especially when at least one of them is married to someone else

Example

The novel centres on the secret liaisons between a diplomat and a journalist.

secret liaisons between [person] and [person]

Rumours of William's liaisons with several staff members ended his political career.

Common collocations
  • secret liaison
  • brief liaison
  • extramarital liaison
  • romantic liaison
Synonyms
  • affair

    the most common everyday term for a secret sexual relationship outside marriage

  • fling

    implies a short, casual relationship, not necessarily secret

  • romance

    emphasizes the emotional and romantic aspect rather than the secrecy

Grammar Patterns

liaisons between [person] and [person]

liaisons with [person]

secret liaisons

Usage Note

This is a formal euphemism. In everyday speech, people are more likely to say 'affair' or 'relationship.' 'Liaisons' in this sense often appears in written contexts — newspapers, novels, and official reports.

Common Mistakes

They had a liaison last year.
They had an affair last year.
while both are correct, 'liaison' in this sense is quite formal. 'Affair' is the everyday word for a secret sexual relationship.
He is my liaison.' (when meaning a romantic partner)
He is my lover.
using 'liaison' to mean a romantic partner is very rare and sounds stilted in modern English.

4. a speech phenomenon where a normally silent final consonant of a word is spoken

4.nounC1
Definition

a speech phenomenon where a normally silent final consonant of a word is spoken aloud when the following word starts with a vowel

Example

French learners often struggle with liaisons between words in rapid speech.

liaisons between words — preposition pattern

The teacher explained how liaisons make 'les amis' sound different from 'les livres.'

Common collocations
  • French liaison
  • mandatory liaison
  • forbidden liaison
  • optional liaison
Synonyms
  • linking

    broader — covers any joining of sounds, including ones always pronounced (e.g. 'linking r')

  • elision

    the opposite process — dropping a sound rather than adding one

Grammar Patterns

liaisons in [language]

liaisons between words

French liaisons

Usage Note

Specific to linguistics and language teaching. Most commonly associated with French, where the phenomenon is systematic, but similar linking occurs in other languages including some varieties of English (e.g. 'law and order' pronounced with an intrusive /r/).

Common Mistakes

Les amis is an example of liaison.
The pronunciation of les amis shows a liaison.
'liaison' refers to the phenomenon itself (the linking), not the resulting pronunciation. You can say 'the liaison in les amis' but not 'les amis is a liaison.'

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

These words all describe ways that people or groups exchange information, but they differ in depth and purpose. Communication is the broadest term — it covers any passing of information, from a quick text message to a formal report. Contact emphasizes simply being in touch: you might have a contact at a company whom you email occasionally, but there may be no regular working relationship. Connection can refer to any kind of relationship or bond, not necessarily involving information exchange at all (an emotional connection, a train connection). Coordination is narrower than liaison — it means organizing activities so they run together smoothly, whereas liaison includes the ongoing communication that makes coordination possible. Link suggests a single channel joining two points: think of a chain-link fence, where each ring connects to exactly two others. Liaison, by contrast, suggests a richer, more sustained relationship — the kind where representatives from two organizations meet regularly, share plans, and solve problems together. For example, a school might have a liaison with the local police, meaning a named person who attends monthly meetings and keeps both sides informed — not just a phone number on a list.

communication ↗contact ↗connection ↗coordination ↗link ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • in close liaison with
  • maintain a liaison
  • establish a liaison

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Liaison entered English from French in the 17th century, where it literally meant 'a binding together.' The French word itself came from the Late Latin ligātiōnem ('a binding'), which traces back to the Latin verb ligāre ('to bind, to tie'). The same Latin root gives English words like ligament, oblige, and religion. The sense of a secret romantic relationship arose in the early 19th century as a polite euphemism — the idea being that the two people were 'tied together' by their affair. The linguistic meaning, referring to the pronunciation link between words, was borrowed directly from French grammatical terminology, where it has been used since the 17th century to describe this characteristic feature of spoken French.

First known use

1665

1665, in the meaning defined at sense 3