affair

American  

[uh-fair] / əˈfɛər /

noun

1. anything done or to be done; anything requiring action or effort; business; concern.

   an affair of great importance.

2. 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.

3. an event or a performance; a particular action, operation, or proceeding.

   When did this affair happen?

4. thing; matter (applied to anything made or existing, usually with a descriptive or qualifying term).

   Our new computer is an amazing affair.

5. a private or personal concern; a special function, business, or duty.

   That's none of your affair.

6. an intense amorous relationship, usually of short duration.

7. an event or happening that occasions or arouses notoriety, dispute, and often public scandal; incident.

   the Congressional bribery affair.

8. a party, social gathering, or other organized festive occasion.

   The awards ceremony is the biggest affair on the school calendar.

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affair British  

/ əˈfɛə /

noun

1. a thing to be done or attended to; matter; business

   this affair must be cleared up

2. an event or happening

   a strange affair

3. (qualified by an adjective or descriptive phrase) something previously specified, esp a man-made object; thing

   our house is a tumbledown affair

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

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Etymology

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

Example Sentences

She brought the socially connected Mrs. Walter into her confidence about the love affair with Elisha.

From Literature

"After today's decision, justice must, without distraction, investigate the involvement of third parties in felony offenses," said Zacharias Kesses, a lawyer for victims of the Predator affair.

From BBC

"The government initially played down the affair to cover for the real political culprits," Koukakis told AFP in an interview a few months ago.

From Barron's

They launched an office to manage their affairs and have since expanded, now working with other wealthy families.

From The Wall Street Journal

While Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea are global brands followed by millions, with stars on the pitch and in the stands, the English second tier has traditionally been a more prosaic affair.

From Barron's

Related Words

• case
• employment
• event
• incident
• interest
• proceeding
• project
• question
• subject
• task
• thing
• topic
• transaction