business relationship

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase ‘business relationship’ is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe any professional connection between two or more parties. For example: "The CEO of the company is focused on building strong business relationships with potential clients."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Their business relationship is complex.

The New Yorker

"It was a business relationship".

The New Yorker

We want to sever our business relationship.

The New York Times

Will that affect the business relationship?

Independent

This is a business relationship".

The New York Times

"It's a confidential business relationship with Markel".

The New York Times

Changes are inevitable in any business relationship.

The Guardian

"Our business relationship has never suffered".

The New York Times - Style

"This is common in a business relationship.

The Guardian

"We have a respectful business relationship.

The New York Times - Sports

And we have an ongoing business relationship.

Yale University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

The phrase works effectively to contrast personal feelings with professional obligations, as seen in many high-quality examples from Ludwig.

Common error

While often used interchangeably in casual speech, a "business relationship" is a broad term, whereas a "business partnership" often carries specific legal and financial liabilities. Be precise when discussing formal agreements.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "business relationship" functions as a compound noun phrase. According to Ludwig AI and the provided examples, it acts as a direct object or the subject of a sentence to categorize the nature of an interaction between two parties.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Science

3%

Wiki

2%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "business relationship" is a versatile and correct term for any professional tie. Data from Ludwig shows that it is used extensively across world-class publications to describe everything from simple trade agreements to complex international diplomacy. Whether you are writing a formal contract or a news article, this phrase provides a clear, professional label for commerce-driven interactions. Use it to specify the nature of a tie while maintaining a neutral, objective tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

professional connection

Focuses more on individual networking and human interaction rather than institutional commerce

commercial partnership

Implies a more formal or legally binding agreement between two entities

working relationship

Broader in scope, often used for colleagues within the same organization

business association

Suggests a formal membership or organizational tie rather than a general interaction

corporate link

Emphasizes the institutional or structural connection between companies

client relationship

Specifies the direction of the interaction as one between a provider and a customer

trading relationship

Specific to the exchange of goods or services between parties

strategic alliance

Suggests a high-level, long-term collaboration for mutual competitive benefit

contractual bond

Narrows the focus to the legal obligations and signed agreements

professional rapport

Focuses on the quality and harmony of the interaction rather than the business structure

FAQs

How do I use "business relationship" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe professional ties, such as: "The company decided to sever its "business relationship" with the supplier due to poor quality control."

What is the difference between a "business relationship" and a "professional relationship"?

A "business relationship" usually refers to commerce or organizational ties, while a "professional relationship" often describes the interpersonal conduct between colleagues or experts.

Is "business relationship" considered formal?

Yes, it is a standard professional term. If you need something even more formal for a contract, you might use "commercial arrangement" or "contractual tie".

Can I say "working relationship" instead?

Yes, a "working relationship" is a common alternative that focuses more on how well people collaborate on tasks.