Synonyms

affectionately

American

[uh-fek-shuh-nit-lee] / əˈfɛk ʃə nɪt li /

adverb

in a way that shows or is characterized by affection or love.

Georgia’s favorite pet is a Russian tortoise, whom she has affectionately named Speedbump.

Other Word Forms

pseudoaffectionately adverb
quasi-affectionately adverb
unaffectionately adverb

Etymology

Origin of affectionately

affectionate ( def. ) + -ly

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.

Some fans of Heated Rivalry have even affectionately dubbed the show, which is partly funded by public money "Canadian government-funded yaoi".

From BBC • Feb. 26, 2026

The late Vicente Fernández, the beloved actor and Grammy-winning maestro of the mariachi and ranchera genres, was affectionately known as “El Charro de Huentitán,” after his hometown in Jalisco.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 23, 2026

She paid tribute to Sakamoto who is affectionately called "big sister" by her teammates.

From Barron's • Feb. 20, 2026

With that funding, the team added a full-time nutritionist, massage therapists and a new ski-service truck affectionately known as Nelly.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 19, 2026

“Don't work like a stalling woodpecker,” urged a Tawny Owl affectionately.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023