Top Definitions
Quiz
Related Content
Examples
British

affair

[ uh-fair ]

/ əˈfɛər /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: affair / affairs on Thesaurus.com

noun

anything done or to be done; anything requiring action or effort; business; concern: an affair of great importance.

affairs, matters of commercial or public interest or concern; the transactions of public or private business or finance: affairs of state; Before taking such a long trip you should put all your affairs in order.

an event or a performance; a particular action, operation, or proceeding: When did this affair happen?

thing; matter (applied to anything made or existing, usually with a descriptive or qualifying term): Our new computer is an amazing affair.

a private or personal concern; a special function, business, or duty: That's none of your affair.

an intense amorous relationship, usually of short duration.

an event or happening that occasions or arouses notoriety, dispute, and often public scandal; incident: the Congressional bribery affair.

a party, social gathering, or other organized festive occasion: The awards ceremony is the biggest affair on the school calendar.

VIDEO FOR AFFAIR

What Is The Origin Of The Word "Affair"?

When most people hear the word affair, they automatically clutch their pearls and assume it’s referring to some sexy form of infidelity. But, the origins of affair aren’t sexy at all.

MORE VIDEOS FROM DICTIONARY.COM

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of affair

1250–1300; earlier affaire<French, Old French afaire for a faire to do, equivalent to a (<Latin ad to) + faire ≪ Latin facere; replacing Middle English afere<Old French

Words nearby affair

afebrile, a few, aff, affability, affable, affair, affaire, affaire d'amour, affaire de coeur, affaire d'honneur, affairs

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use affair in a sentence

From the outset, Perry’s focus on Ukraine had puzzled his colleagues in government, who say that he took a personal interest in the country’s affairs.
Rick Perry’s Ukrainian Dream|by Simon Shuster, TIME, and Ilya Marritz, WNYC|September 10, 2020|ProPublica
Despite much drum-beating on the topic, much of the public is still unaware that seasonal flu is a serious affair.
The COVID-19 pandemic is about to collide with flu season. Here’s what to expect.|Sara Chodosh|August 26, 2020|Popular-Science
In her new role, Delaine Prado will report to Google’s SVP of global affairs, Kent Walker, an influential lawyer who has played a key role in guiding the company’s political and legal response to the numerous challenges it is facing.
Google names Halimah DeLaine Prado as new general counsel|Jeff|August 25, 2020|Fortune
There is overwhelming public support for making cocktails to go permanent, says Mike Whatley, vice president of state and local affairs for the National Restaurant Association.
Number of states allowing to-go cocktails has surged from 2 to 33 during coronavirus|Lee Clifford|August 24, 2020|Fortune

Days earlier, he had admitted to being questioned in a federal investigation related to the 2016 presidential election, blaming the whole affair on “the deep state.”
The year’s hottest e-commerce stock is up more than 1,500%. Its founder cashed out before the rally|Bernhard Warner|August 18, 2020|Fortune
But he elected instead to have a very visible affair with a music-hall star.
The Real-Life ‘Downton’ Millionairesses Who Changed Britain|Tim Teeman|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is what I (sometimes) find endearing about the whole affair.
The Craziest Date Night for Single Jews, Where Mistletoe Is Ditched for Shots|Emily Shire|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Literature in the 14th century, Strohm points out, was an intimate, interactive affair.
A Year In The Life of The Canterbury Tales’ Storied Beginnings|Wendy Smith|December 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For Kirke it was being paid to pretend to play the oboe that heightened her affair with classical music.
‘Mozart in the Jungle’: Inside Amazon’s Brave New World of Sex, Drugs, and Classical Music|Kevin Fallon|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Dinner was a baroque affair, on the beach, a warm breeze gently blowing.
Canada ♥ Cuba Just Got Complicated|Shinan Govani|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And now, monsieur, if you will communicate to me the nature of your affair, you shall find me entirely at your service.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
Their sin began on Holy Thursday, with so little secrecy and so bad an example, that the affair was beginning to leak out.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
He was a boy of eighteen, aching over his first love affair; and she was divinely mothering him.
The Wave|Algernon Blackwood
This information was balm to Louis, as it seemed to promise a peaceful termination to so threatening an affair.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
And it might be a good idea for you to give your men a gentle hint to keep their mouths closed about this affair—all of it.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair

British Dictionary definitions for affair

affair

/ (əˈfɛə) /

noun

a thing to be done or attended to; matter; businessthis affair must be cleared up

an event or happeninga strange affair

(qualified by an adjective or descriptive phrase) something previously specified, esp a man-made object; thingour house is a tumbledown affair

a sexual relationship between two people who are not married to each other

See also affairs

Word Origin for affair

C13: from Old French, from à faire to do

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012