affection

¹ American  

[uh-fek-shuhn] / əˈfɛk ʃən /

noun

1. fond attachment, devotion, or love.

   the affection of a parent for an only child.

   Synonyms:

   friendship, fondness, amity, friendliness, liking

   Antonyms:

   dislike

2. Often affections

   1. emotion; feeling; sentiment.

      over and above our reason and affections.

   2. the emotional realm of love.

      a place in his affections.

3. Pathology. a disease, or the condition of being diseased; abnormal state of body or mind.

   a gouty affection.

4. the act of affecting; act of influencing or acting upon.

5. the state of being affected.

6. Philosophy. a contingent, alterable, and accidental state or quality of being.

7. the affective aspect of a mental process.

8. bent or disposition of mind.

9. Obsolete. bias; prejudice.

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affection ² American  

[uh-fek-shuhn] / əˈfɛk ʃən /

noun

Obsolete.

1. affectation.

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affection British  

/ əˈfɛkʃən /

noun

1. a feeling of fondness or tenderness for a person or thing; attachment

2. (often plural) emotion, feeling, or sentiment

   to play on a person's affections

3. pathol any disease or pathological condition

4. psychol any form of mental functioning that involves emotion See also affect 1

5. the act of affecting or the state of being affected

6. archaic inclination or disposition

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Usage

What are other ways to say affection?

Affection refers to fond attachment, as of one person to another. How is affection different from love and devotion? Find out on Thesaurus.com.

Other Word Forms

• affectional adjective
• affectionless adjective

Etymology

Origin of affection¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin affectiōn- (stem of affectiō ) “disposition or state of mind or body”; affect ¹, -ion

Origin of affection¹

First recorded in 1525–35; affect ² + -ion

Example Sentences

Not even the creature’s eloquence moves Victor to self-reflection: “O Frankenstein, be not equitable to every other, and trample upon me alone, to whom thy justice, and even thy clemency and affection, is most due.”

From The Wall Street Journal

The singer also thanked the "so many dear people who have sent me messages of affection and loyalty", adding: "I have found great comfort in them."

From BBC

Despite their clear affection for these women, the Dardenne brothers never sugarcoat their characters’ unenviable circumstance or latch onto phony bromides to alleviate our anxiety.

From Los Angeles Times

“Good morning, dear,” Aunt Kitty began in her warm way, embracing Mrs. Maroney with sisterly affection, then patting angelic-looking Flora on her curly head.

From Literature

If someone gives affection and gifts easily, they can withdraw them just as easily.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• care
• closeness
• desire
• devotion
• emotion
• feeling
• friendship
• good will
• kindness
• love
• passion
• sentiment
• tenderness
• warmth