affirm

[uh-furm]

verb (used with object)

1. to state or assert positively; maintain as true.

   to affirm one's loyalty to one's country; He affirmed that all was well.

   Synonyms: testify, depose, asseverate, aver
   Antonyms: deny

2. to confirm or ratify.

   The appellate court affirmed the judgment of the lower court.

   Synonyms: endorse, approve

3. to assert solemnly.

   He affirmed his innocence.

4. to express agreement with or commitment to; uphold; support.

   to affirm human rights.

5. to support (someone) by giving approval, recognition, or encouragement.

   She described the unhappy memory of her father, who had neither disciplined nor affirmed her.

verb (used without object)

1. Law.

   1. to state something solemnly before a court or magistrate, but without oath.

   2. to ratify and accept a voidable transaction.

   3. (of an appellate court) to determine that the action of the lower court shall stand.

affirm

/ əˈfɜːm /

verb

1. (may take a clause as object) to declare to be true; assert positively

2. to uphold, confirm, or ratify

3. (intr) law to make an affirmation

Other Word Forms

• affirmer noun
• affirmable adjective
• affirmably adverb
• affirmingly adverb
• overaffirm verb
• preaffirm verb
• reaffirm verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of affirm¹

First recorded in 1300–50; from Latin affirmāre, equivalent to af- af- + firmāre “to make firm” ( firm ¹ ); replacing Middle English a(f)fermen, from Middle French afermer, from Latin

Word History and Origins

Origin of affirm¹

C14: via Old French from Latin affirmāre to present (something) as firm or fixed, assert, from ad- to + firmāre to make _firm ¹

Synonym Study

See declare.

Example Sentences

He says people planning holidays with AI tools should understand their programming often makes them encouraging and affirming of the user's demands and requests.

Read more on BBC

What they do with that knowledge, however, affirms the necessity of the military’s shift toward accepting broader diversity in its ranks.

Read more on Salon

Paxton publicly affirmed he had no knowledge of trust investments in his 2015 state ethics filing.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He acknowledges this and affirmed that “after spending a lot of time in Hollywood, nobody has disputed this characterization.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“Whole of the Moon,” holding pride of place in the encore, felt like it had only recently been released, affirming, vital and very much needed right now.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• assert 
• confirm 
• declare 
• guarantee 
• insist 
• maintain 
• profess 
• ratify 
• repeat