affair

[ uh-fair ]

/ əˈfɛər /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR affair 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.

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Question 1 of 10

advocate

to give up possession or occupancy of.

to speak or write in favor of; support or urge by argument; recommend publicly.

to pronounce or decree by judicial sentence.

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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, afetal, aff, aff., affable, affair, affaire, affaire d'amour, affaire d'honneur, affaire de coeur, affairs

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for affairs

And that this state of affairs is not just the way things are.
It’s Always Black Friday for Clerks|Michael Tomasky|November 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If State of Affairs succeeds, it could change the conversation around Heigl.
It’s Time to Stop Hating Katherine Heigl|Kevin Fallon|November 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Frankly, I have never heard anyone else speak with such insight into Afghan affairs, post-US surge.
Heart of Darkness: Into Afghanistan’s Taliban Valley|Matt Trevithick, Daniel Seckman|November 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Cooke writes, “In our conversations among the band she has revealed in a matter-of-fact way that she has had affairs with women.”
Janis Joplin’s Kozmic Blues|William O’Connor|November 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Instead, she advocates for a major shift away from a morally-driven condemnation of affairs.
Why You’re Happily Married and Having an Affair|Ryan Selzer|November 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If Martine was annoyed by Priscilla's refusal, poor Priscilla was deeply disturbed by the turn of affairs.
Brenda's Ward|Helen Leah Reed
At the factory he flung himself into the affairs of the firm with a zeal that at times bordered on officiousness.
Quin|Alice Hegan Rice
As long as Aguinaldo remained out, this state of affairs was sure to continue indefinitely, possibly for years to come.
The American Occupation of the Philippines 1898-1912|James H. Blount
But the sense of humour often fails where one's own affairs are concerned.
The Golden Silence|C. N. Williamson and A. M. Williamson
We go about even the most delightful of our affairs in a sadly hum-drum way.
In Pastures Green|Peter McArthur

British Dictionary definitions for affairs (1 of 2)

affairs

/ (əˈfɛəz) /

pl n

personal or business interestshis affairs were in disorder

matters of public interestcurrent affairs

British Dictionary definitions for affairs (2 of 2)

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

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

MEANINGS

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affair

noun

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Origin of affair

Words nearby affair

Example sentences from the Web for affairs

British Dictionary definitions for affairs (1 of 2)

pl n

British Dictionary definitions for affairs (2 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for affair

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

affair

noun

QUIZZES

TAKE ROUND 2 OF OUR PSAT VOCABULARY QUIZ!

Origin of affair

Words nearby affair

Words related to affairs

Example sentences from the Web for affairs

British Dictionary definitions for affairs (1 of 2)

pl n

British Dictionary definitions for affairs (2 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for affair