affected

[ uh-fek-tid ]

/ əˈfɛk tɪd /

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See synonyms for: affected / affectedness on Thesaurus.com

adjective

acted upon; influenced.

influenced in a harmful way; impaired, harmed, or attacked, as by climate or disease.

(of the mind or feelings) impressed; moved; touched: She was deeply affected by their generosity.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of affected

First recorded in 1570–80; affect¹ + -ed²

Words nearby affected

affaire de coeur, affaire d'honneur, affairs, affect, affectation, affected, affecting, affection, affectional, affectional orientation, affectionate

Other definitions for affected (2 of 2)

affected²

[ uh-fek-tid ]

/ əˈfɛk tɪd /

adjective

assumed artificially; unnatural; feigned: affected sophistication; an affected British accent.

assuming or pretending to possess that which is not natural: Her affected wealth and social pedigree are so obviously false that it's embarrassing.

inclined or disposed: well affected toward the speaker's cause.

held in affection; fancied: a novel much affected by our grandparents.

Origin of affected

First recorded in 1525–35; affect² + -ed²

OTHER WORDS FROM affected

af·fect·ed·ly, adverbaf·fect·ed·ness, noun

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

How to use affected in a sentence

Workers in our neighborhood supermarkets, drug stores and health care facilities are among the most affected, and sometimes interact with thousands of customers or patients a day.
The Pandemic Hasn’t Gone Away – Neither Should Hazard Pay|Todd Walters and Brent E. Beltrán|August 20, 2020|Voice of San Diego
Though even in the worst affected places, prosperity only dropped to levels last seen in recent years.
The last time GDP was this bad was only a few years ago|David Yanofsky|July 17, 2020|Quartz
It’s unclear whether the hackers also accessed affected users’ private messages.
Twitter hack jolts companies into a social media security check|Lara O'Reilly|July 17, 2020|Digiday
In affected regions, hundreds of millions of people could be threatened with dying heat.
Deadly heat: Expected by century’s end, it’s here already|Jonathan Lambert|June 19, 2020|Science News For Students

I mean, here we are in New York City, where you were very affected.
The Prime Minister Who Cried Brexit (Ep. 392)|Stephen J. Dubner|October 10, 2019|Freakonomics
Indeed, as an almost purely advisory firm, Lazard is (appropriately) barely affected by the Dodd-Frank reforms.
Antonio Weiss Is Not Part of the Problem|Steve Rattner|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
He affected an anchorman finesse in apologizing for “past mistakes” as a Ku Klux Klan leader.
The Louisiana Racists Who Courted Steve Scalise|Jason Berry|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
According to the AP, as of October, there were only four people still alive who be affected by this legislation.
Nazis, Sunscreen, and Sea Gull Eggs: Congress in 2014 Was Hella Productive|Ben Jacobs|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Visibly affected the by military atmosphere the young man admitted his emotions were volatile.
Hunt for Iraq Vet After Killing Spree|M.L. Nestel|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Uber responded to the PR nightmare by reversing the surge, refunding those affected, and doling out free rides.
In Defense of Uber’s Awful Sydney Surge Pricing|Olivia Nuzzi|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Janet's silence impressed Hilda: it was not merely strange--it was formidable: it affected the whole day.
Hilda Lessways|Arnold Bennett
Hagley Road, on Sunday evenings, is particularly affected by some as their favourite promenade.
Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham|Thomas T. Harman and Walter Showell
He made the acquaintance of some courtiers, who felt or affected an interest in learning and in learned men.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.
But he is not aware of the profound extent to which his own opinions have been affected by the changing times.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
The finely granular variety is the least significant, and is found when the epithelium is only moderately affected.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd

British Dictionary definitions for affected (1 of 2)

affected¹

/ (əˈfɛktɪd) /

adjective (usually postpositive)

deeply moved, esp by sorrow or griefhe was greatly affected by her departure

changed, esp detrimentally

Word Origin for affected

C17: from affect 1 + -ed ²

British Dictionary definitions for affected (2 of 2)

affected²

/ (əˈfɛktɪd) /

adjective

behaving, speaking, etc, in an artificial or assumed way, esp in order to impress others

feignedaffected indifference

archaic inclined; disposed

Derived forms of affected

affectedly, adverbaffectedness, noun

Word Origin for affected

C16: from affect ² + -ed ²

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

affected

Origin of affected

Words nearby affected

Other definitions for affected (2 of 2)

Origin of affected

OTHER WORDS FROM affected

Words related to affected

How to use affected in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for affected (1 of 2)

Word Origin for affected

British Dictionary definitions for affected (2 of 2)

Derived forms of affected

Word Origin for affected