noun
liaison
lee-AY-zo
noun
1
A person who acts as a link between two groups, passing information back and forth.
"She was appointed as the liaison between the police and the community."
"The company hired a liaison to coordinate with foreign investors."
2
Communication and cooperation between two parties or organizations.
"Close liaison between the two teams kept the launch on schedule."
3
A secret or illicit romantic relationship.
"Rumors of a liaison between the two executives spread through the office."
How to Use Liaison
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a go-between who connects two groups, or (less formally) a secret romantic affair.
Common mistake
Commonly misspelled — remember the "ai" comes before the second "i": l-i-a-i-s-o-n.
Common pairings
liaison officer
act as a liaison
a secret liaison
Word Forms
liaisoned past tense, liaisons plural, liaisons singular
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She was appointed as the _____ between the police and the community.
Etymology
From French liaison ("binding"), from Latin ligare ("to bind").