Professional Networking Vocabulary

noun a person one knows slightly, but who is not a close friend

• I have recently made the acquaintance of a prominent scientist in the field.
• I bumped into an old acquaintance at the grocery store yesterday.
• I don't really hang out with that acquaintance anymore.
• The concept of time is a fickle acquaintance, always slipping away when you need it most.

noun the state or process of being affiliated or associated with a particular organization or group

• The professor's affiliation with multiple universities allowed him to conduct research in various fields.
• I heard Sarah has an affiliation with that new startup company.
• I don't want to be affiliated with that group anymore, they're too sketchy.
• His affiliation with the arts community opened up new opportunities for him.

noun a arrangement to meet someone at a particular time and place

• Please remember to confirm your appointments with the receptionist before leaving.
• Don't forget to double-check your appointments with the front desk before you go.
• Make sure you lock in your appointments with the admin before you bounce.
• In life, our appointments with destiny are often unpredictable and mysterious.

noun the act of mixing or blending together

verb gerund form of the verb 'mingle', which means to mix or blend together

• The guests were mingling and exchanging pleasantries at the networking event.
• I saw you mingling with the crowd at the party last night.
• She's always mingling with the cool kids at school.
• The flavors were mingling together perfectly in the dish.