affected
1 Americanadjective
-
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.
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.
adjective
-
behaving, speaking, etc, in an artificial or assumed way, esp in order to impress others
-
feigned
affected indifference
-
archaic inclined; disposed
adjective
-
deeply moved, esp by sorrow or grief
he was greatly affected by her departure
-
changed, esp detrimentally
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of affected1
First recorded in 1570–80; affect 1 + -ed 2
Origin of affected2
Explanation
Something that's affected is influenced or acted upon. If a bottle of ointment says "apply to the affected area," you should put the medication only on the parts of your skin that touched the poison ivy. One of the most common vocabulary mix-ups is effect and affect: effect is usually a noun, and affect is usually a verb that means "to influence" of "act upon." Affected is the adjective form of the verb. After a flood, affected homeowners might try to get insurance. A sad movie might leave you deeply affected. The word can also refer to behavior that's done only to impress someone: if you're acting affected, you might use big, fake melodramatic gestures.
Vocabulary lists containing affected
The Catcher in the Rye
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Words of Nick Carraway
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
As Spielberg predicted in 2005, humans would choose between doing their part to save one another or prioritizing their own desires, no matter who was affected.
From Salon • Jun. 13, 2026
This, in turn, disrupts important neuronal signaling pathways, providing a likely explanation for the movement-related symptoms seen in affected patients.
From Science Daily • Jun. 13, 2026
Sinfield, 45, led Leeds to seven Super League titles between 2004 and 2015, and has since raised more than £11m to aid research and support families affected by Motor Neurone Disease.
From BBC • Jun. 12, 2026
The only 2026 World Cup venue not affected by the rule is Vancouver's BC Place.
From Barron's • Jun. 12, 2026
Everybody knew somebody affected by it: Daddy’s family, Monday’s family, church congregations, the Mayor, even teachers at school.
From "Monday's Not Coming" by Tiffany D. Jackson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
