noun

affinity

uh-FIN-ih-tee/əˈfɪnəti/

A natural tendency to be drawn to or connect with something.

Their shared delight in birdwatching reveals a natural affinity between them.

Two adult women, one white and one East Asian, spontaneously lean together with warm interest over a shared birdwatching sight, binoculars lowered and matching delighted gestures.

Etymology

afLatinto, toward

+finLatinborder, boundary

+ityLatinstate or condition

'Toward a border' gives the image of adjoining, which also described kinship by marriage. This closeness extended figuratively to a natural attraction or connection resembling family ties.

In context

media.ccc.de2:06

uh when talking about phone boxes between wanting to own them uh as a subculture. So, um I think within this context subculturally we um have a kind of great affinity to the phone box.

Ben Dalton: Superheroes Still Need Phoneboxes

More examples

The artist's affinity for color appears in every painting.
This molecule has a strong affinity for the receptor.
Their shared experiences created unexpected affinities between the two writers.

Forms

affinity · affinities

Similar words

attraction: Emphasizes being drawn toward something rather than an underlying connection.
kinship: Emphasizes shared qualities or a feeling of close relationship.