affirmation
Americannoun
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the act or an instance of affirming; state of being affirmed.
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the assertion that something exists or is true.
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something that is affirmed; a statement or proposition that is declared to be true.
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confirmation or ratification of the truth or validity of a prior judgment, decision, etc.
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Law. a solemn declaration accepted instead of a statement under oath.
noun
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the act of affirming or the state of being affirmed
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a statement of the existence or truth of something; assertion
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law a solemn declaration permitted on grounds of conscientious objection to taking an oath
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of affirmation
First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin affirmātiōn-, stem of affirmātiō, equivalent to affirmāt(us) (past participle of affirmāre affirm ) + -iō -ion
Explanation
An affirmation is a big fat YES, an assertion that something is true. Affirmations can show up in court, or taped to the walls of people who need reassurance. In court, it's a judgment from a higher court that agrees with one from a lower one, or something a religious person who doesn't want to take an oath can use. Quakers use affirmations on the stand instead of swearing, because they always speak plainly. It means to assure, or agree, so you might find affirmations like "You're awesome!" or "Lookin' good" taped to the mirror of people who need to chin up.
Vocabulary lists containing affirmation
The Bill of Rights
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The Constitution of the United States
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The Devil's Arithmetic
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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.
But her mother’s affirmation remains the thread connecting both works.
From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2026
In the memoir, Ms. Dunham traces the struggles of her adult life—fame, illness, addiction—with touching emphasis on the early tremulous excitements of becoming well-known: the affirmation, the freebies, the invitations to glittering events.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026
During those beginning months, you are still in “arrival mode” and looking everywhere for affirmation that you made the right decision.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 24, 2026
Life Boat is a simple affirmation of hope, set to a trancey house beat that shows Raye could still churn out a four-to-the-floor banger if she wanted.
From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026
To Forward, this owes to their abilities to have confronted the truth, expressed it, become genuine—in a way that isn’t possible through platitude or mere positive affirmation.
From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel
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.
