liaison
lee-AY-zon
/liˈeɪzɒn/
Communication or cooperation which facilitates a close working relationship between people or organizations.
A liaison is the human bridge between two groups who might not otherwise communicate well.
The story behind the word. Borrowed from French, where it means 'a binding' or 'a connection'. It comes from the Latin 'ligare', meaning 'to tie'. It’s the same root that gives us 'ligament' and 'religion'.
Word relationships
- intermediary: An intermediary is a general term for a middleman; a liaison implies an ongoing, official communication role.
- barrier: A barrier prevents communication, while a liaison enables it.
Commonly confused with
- facilitator: A facilitator runs a meeting; a liaison manages the ongoing relationship between two groups.
Collocations
- liaison officer
- act as a liaison
- close liaison
Example sentences
- "She served as a liaison between the marketing department and the product development team." Business
- "The officer acted as a liaison with the local authorities to coordinate the relief effort." Military
Memory hook
Liaison: Think of a 'liaison' as a 'line' that 'zips' two groups together. Liaison = The bridge person.
When not to use
In casual contexts, 'liaison' can sometimes imply an illicit romantic affair; be careful with the context.
Fun facts
- In cooking, a 'liaison' is a mixture of egg yolks and cream used to thicken a sauce—it literally binds the ingredients.
Related words
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