affection

[ uh-fek-shuhn ]

/ əˈfɛk ʃən /

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See synonyms for: affection / affections on Thesaurus.com

noun

fond attachment, devotion, or love: the affection of a parent for an only child.

Often affections .

emotion; feeling; sentiment: over and above our reason and affections.
the emotional realm of love: a place in his affections.

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

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

the state of being affected.

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

the affective aspect of a mental process.

bent or disposition of mind.

Obsolete. bias; prejudice.

OTHER WORDS FOR affection

1 liking, friendliness, amity, fondness, friendship.

See synonyms for affection on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR affection

1 dislike.

See antonyms for affection on Thesaurus.com

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 affection

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin affectiōn- (stem of affectiō ) “disposition or state of mind or body”; see affect¹, -ion

OTHER WORDS FROM affection

af·fec·tion·less, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH affection

affectation, affection

Words nearby affection

affairs, affect, affectation, affected, affecting, affection, affectional, affectional orientation, affectionate, affectionately, affective

Other definitions for affection (2 of 2)

affection²

[ uh-fek-shuhn ]

/ əˈfɛk ʃən /

noun Obsolete.

affectation (defs. 1-3).

Origin of affection

First recorded in 1525–35; affect² + -ion

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

WHEN TO USE

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.

How to use affection in a sentence

Her content on TikTok, which runs the gamut from glamour shots to poking fun at Gambian norms around public displays of affection to mocking the country’s leaders, regularly gets thousands of views.
The Latest Hub of Political Humor: Gambia|Charu Kasturi|November 24, 2020|Ozy
If you have a family member who is insistent on some kind of squeeze, check out this guide to the safest ways of showing physical affection.
How to plan a COVID-safe Thanksgiving, week-by-week|Kate Baggaley|October 30, 2020|Popular-Science
Thor and Unnur, who we don’t hear from much at all, don’t have to say much for the audience to see the deep level of trust and affection the two share.
This Film Will Make You Rethink Every Parental Decision|Ryan Van Bibber|October 26, 2020|Outside Online
That region has been voting against Democrats for years, and it has been fertile territory for movements like Timber Unity, an anti-environmentalist group that has opposed the liberal government in Salem — and shown mutual affection with Skarlatos.
The Trailer: Is this the future of the GOP?|David Weigel|October 20, 2020|Washington Post

Today, although Uruguay has one of the older populations in South America, we think it’s necessary for the elderly to have affection and to have talks in patios or gardens, in the open air.
No more maté sharing|Tate Ryan-Mosley|August 19, 2020|MIT Technology Review
And who better to do that with than the actress who is playing the object of said (alleged) lesbian affection in the flick?
Inside the Lifetime Whitney Houston Movie’s Lesbian Lover Storyline|Kevin Fallon|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Needless to say, Juxiao was thrilled to see them and gave each of them a lot of love and affection.
‘Sexual’ Barbershop Quartet, a Panda Family Reunion, and More Viral Videos|The Daily Beast Video|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The new way to show your love and affection for your bestie is with a fashionable Little Scocha friendship bracelet.
The Daily Beast’s 2014 Holiday Gift Guide: For the Blue Ivy in Your Life|Allison McNearney|November 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The archaeologists I met talked about Indiana Jones with real affection.
The Real-Life Raiders of the Lost Ark|Alex Belth|November 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Judging by the pictures of President Truong Tan Sang and Obama, Vietnam is showing some affection back.
Beijing’s ‘Star Trek’ APEC Summit|Jake Adelstein|November 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The same outpourings of affection are seen in the dealings of children with their toy babies and animals.
Children's Ways|James Sully
In the close relation and affection of these last days, the sense of alienation and antagonism faded from both their hearts.
Ramona|Helen Hunt Jackson
She was not accustomed to an outward and spoken expression of affection, either in herself or in others.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
Pitch corresponds to the range of the voice, and expresses affection or attraction.
Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick
Isaacson thought what the world would say, and suddenly he knew the reality of his affection for Nigel.
Bella Donna|Robert Hichens

British Dictionary definitions for affection

affection

/ (əˈfɛkʃən) /

noun

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

(often plural) emotion, feeling, or sentimentto play on a person's affections

pathol any disease or pathological condition

psychol any form of mental functioning that involves emotionSee also affect 1 (def. 2)

the act of affecting or the state of being affected

archaic inclination or disposition

Derived forms of affection

affectional, adjective

Word Origin for affection

C13: from Latin affectiōn- disposition, from afficere to affect 1

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

affection

OTHER WORDS FOR affection

OPPOSITES FOR affection

Origin of affection

OTHER WORDS FROM affection

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH affection

Words nearby affection

Other definitions for affection (2 of 2)

Origin of affection

WHEN TO USE

What are other ways to say affection?

Words related to affection

How to use affection in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for affection

Derived forms of affection

Word Origin for affection