affirmative
affirming or assenting; asserting the truth, validity, or fact of something.
expressing agreement or consent; assenting: an affirmative reply.
positive; not negative.
Logic. noting a proposition in which a property of a subject is affirmed, as “All men are happy.”
something that affirms or asserts; a positive statement or proposition; affirmation.
a reply indicating assent, as Yes or I do.
a manner or mode that indicates assent: a reply in the affirmative.
the side, as in a debate, that affirms or defends a statement that the opposite side denies or attacks: to speak for the affirmative.
(used to indicate agreement, assent, etc.): “Is this the right way to Lake George?” “Affirmative.”
Origin of affirmative
1Other words from affirmative
- af·firm·a·tive·ly, adverb
- o·ver·af·firm·a·tive, adjective
- o·ver·af·firm·a·tive·ly, adverb
- pre·af·firm·a·tive, adjective
- qua·si-af·firm·a·tive, adjective
- qua·si-af·firm·a·tive·ly, adverb
Words Nearby affirmative
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use affirmative in a sentence
She and other detractors also argue the bill’s affirmative defense provision would place extra burden on defendants because it could require them to produce documentation in their defense which can lead to costly litigation.
Cheat sheet: U.S. lawmakers propose Section 230 reforms to regulate online paid speech | Kate Kaye | February 10, 2021 | DigidayHe also helped establish one of the federal government’s first affirmative action programs, the so-called Philadelphia Plan, which set goals for minority employment at federally subsidized construction sites.
George P. Shultz, counsel and Cabinet member for two Republican presidents, dies at 100 | Michael Abramowitz, David Hoffman | February 8, 2021 | Washington PostAnother recent celebrity disclosure seems to offer a disappointingly affirmative answer to that question.
Rupert Everett reminds us homophobia persists in Hollywood | John Paul King | October 10, 2020 | Washington BladeA Labor Department spokesperson told Axios that the agency "appreciates Microsoft's assurance on its website that it is not engaging in racial preferences or quotas in seeking to reach its affirmative action and outreach goals."
Allowing Los Angeles to pass an affirmative action policy would allow it to more quickly diversify its workforce, she argues.
Morning Report: SANDAG Head Wades Into Supes Race | Voice of San Diego | August 14, 2020 | Voice of San Diego
His was one of six votes against the day, which received 90 votes in the affirmative.
Steve Scalise and the Right’s Ridiculous Racial Blame Game | Michael Tomasky | January 2, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTIn another unusual move, the grand jury considered not only the basic elements of the crime, but also affirmative defenses.
A sizable number of Asian Americans feel that affirmative action, in college admissions or elsewhere, has hurt them personally.
And how could an accused person prove affirmative consent, especially of the nonverbal variety?
And Derbyshire “always assume[s] that any black person in a well-paid position is an affirmative Action hire.”
She asks if the piece shown to her by the saleswoman is all silk, who makes an affirmative reply.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman | Albert Sidney BollesThe attendant stooped over the bed to ascertain, and nodded in the affirmative.
Oliver Twist, Vol. II (of 3) | Charles DickensWe are ourselves satisfied, and undertake to demonstrate to our readers, that this question must be answered in the affirmative.
Mr. Boar, who had watched his approach, rose at the removal of the hat, and replied in the affirmative.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2) | Francis TrevithickFagin nodded in the affirmative, and pointing in the direction of Saffron Hill, inquired whether any one was up yonder to-night.
Oliver Twist, Vol. II (of 3) | Charles Dickens
British Dictionary definitions for affirmative
/ (əˈfɜːmətɪv) /
confirming or asserting something as true or valid: an affirmative statement
indicating agreement or assent: an affirmative answer
logic
(of a categorial proposition) affirming the satisfaction by the subject of the predicate, as in all birds have feathers; some men are married
not containing negation: Compare negative (def. 12)
a positive assertion
a word or phrase stating agreement or assent, such as yes (esp in the phrase answer in the affirmative)
logic an affirmative proposition
the affirmative mainly US and Canadian the side in a debate that supports the proposition
military a signal codeword used to express assent or confirmation
Derived forms of affirmative
- affirmatively, adverb
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
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