What does attachment mean?
Attachment is a noun with several related senses that all revolve around the idea of fastening or bonding. Most commonly, it denotes an emotional tie — a feeling of affection or loyalty that connects a person to another person, place, or thing, as in 'her attachment to her hometown.' In modern digital life, an attachment is a file transmitted along with an email message. The word also describes physical accessories added to machines or tools, such as a blender's whisk attachment, and the general act or state of being fastened. In law, attachment refers to a court-ordered seizure of property. Derived from the Old French 'atachier,' meaning to fasten or arrest, the word entered English in the medieval period. Its tone ranges from intimate and psychological to technical and bureaucratic, making it a versatile and frequently used term across personal, professional, and legal registers.
A feeling of affection or bond that ties a person to someone or something else.
"Children form strong attachments to their primary caregivers."
In psychology, 'attachment' is a technical term describing enduring emotional bonds, especially between infants and caregivers.
A computer file sent together with an email message.
"Please see the attachment for the full report."
An accessory or supplementary device fitted to a piece of equipment.
"The vacuum cleaner came with several useful attachments."
The act of attaching or the condition of being fastened or connected.
"Secure the attachment of the bracket before use."
Standard plural, used freely across all senses except the abstract sense of the act of attaching.
"Emails with large attachments may take longer to send."
The word 'attachment' comes from an Old French verb meaning to arrest or seize — so your emotional attachments are, etymologically speaking, things that have grabbed you and won't let go.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of attachment
Attachment derives from the Old French verb 'atachier' (to fasten, fix, or seize), which itself likely came from a Germanic root related to 'stake.' It entered Middle English via Anglo-Norman in the late Middle Ages, initially carrying legal senses relating to the seizure of persons or property. Over time its meaning broadened to encompass both physical fastening and, from around the seventeenth century onward, emotional bonds — the sense now central to psychology's 'attachment theory,' developed by John Bowlby in the twentieth century.
How attachment is actually used
Attachment is a formal-to-neutral word common in both everyday and technical contexts. In psychology (especially attachment theory), it carries a specific technical meaning referring to enduring emotional bonds; in legal English it refers to the seizure of property. In digital communication, 'attachment' is the standard term for files accompanying an email.
Easily confused with attachment
Attainment means an achievement or something gained through effort, while attachment means a bond of affection or a thing fastened to another.