affirmative

[ uh-fur-muh-tiv ]

/ əˈfɜr mə tɪv /

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See synonyms for: affirmative / affirmatives / affirmatively on Thesaurus.com

adjective

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.”

noun

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.

interjection

(used to indicate agreement, assent, etc.): “Is this the right way to Lake George?” “Affirmative.”

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CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of affirmative

1400–50; <Latin affirmātīvus, equivalent to affirmāt- (see affirmation) + -īvus-ive; replacing late Middle English affirmatyff<Middle French <Latin

OTHER WORDS FROM affirmative

af·firm·a·tive·ly, adverbo·ver·af·firm·a·tive, adjectiveo·ver·af·firm·a·tive·ly, adverbpre·af·firm·a·tive, adjective

qua·si-af·firm·a·tive, adjectivequa·si-af·firm·a·tive·ly, adverb

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

How to use affirmative in a sentence

Arguments over the Fairness Doctrine often serve as proxy debates for larger issues, including the legitimacy of government’s affirmative duty to protect positive freedoms.
The Fairness Doctrine won’t solve our problems — but it can foster needed debate|Victor Pickard|February 4, 2021|Washington Post
There’s no law that protected us, or affirmative action, that doesn’t even exist, right, in Germany.
Boris Kodjoe: Teach Racial History|Eugene Robinson|February 2, 2021|Ozy
And, while it does require that individuals give affirmative express consent before sensitive data can be processed or transferred to a third party, the definition is less broad than what’s in COPRA.
Cheat sheet: What to expect in state and federal privacy regulation in 2021|Kate Kaye|February 1, 2021|Digiday
Steps have been taken in recent decades to begin addressing this legacy in earnest, from anti-discrimination laws to affirmative action efforts.
The U.S. Capitol Riot Was Years in the Making. Here's Why America Is So Divided|Ian Bremmer|January 16, 2021|Time

If this limited deal does pass, it’s likely they’ll abruptly pivot to an affirmative economic message, suddenly extolling all they’re doing for the recovery.
A disgusting GOP attack ad shows what’s really at stake in Georgia|Greg Sargent|December 18, 2020|Washington Post
Some three dozen had answered affirmatively to both and were deemed “fever with travel” jobs.
From Ebola Country to NYC’s Subways|Michael Daly|October 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And, until Congress acts affirmatively, Cole said the DOJ will be dealing with these issues as they come, on a case-by-case basis.
Senate Debates the Pot Law Loophole|Miranda Green|September 11, 2013|DAILY BEAST
All committee meetings would be open unless the committee affirmatively voted to close it.
Memo: The Aaron Sorkin Model of Political Discourse Doesn't Actually Work|Megan McArdle|April 23, 2013|DAILY BEAST
When Guy answered affirmatively, the stranger brought Guy to his apartment to strum some tunes for his wife.
‘When I Left Home’: The Life of Buddy Guy|Luke Epplin|June 7, 2012|DAILY BEAST
“Teller B responded affirmatively in Spanish,” the criminal complaint reports.
New Usual Suspects in U.S. Bank Heists: Women|Michael Daly|May 14, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The bailiff nodded affirmatively, crossed the drawbridge and entered the donjon.
The Pilgrim's Shell or Fergan the Quarryman|Eugne Sue
M. Regnard says affirmatively, that the grey squirrels of Lapland are the same animals as the French squirrels.
Buffon's Natural History. Volume VII (of 10)|Georges Louis Leclerc de Buffon
"That caballero and the persons of his suite," answered the old chief, affirmatively nodding his head.
The Flying Horseman|Gustave Aimard
Her husband evidently had no difficulty in following her train of thought, for he nodded once more, affirmatively.
The Turmoil|Booth Tarkington
Finally she enquired whether he knew how a will should be drawn up, and that, too, he answered affirmatively.
The Bride of the Nile, Complete|Georg Ebers

British Dictionary definitions for affirmative

affirmative

/ (əˈfɜːmətɪv) /

adjective

confirming or asserting something as true or validan affirmative statement

indicating agreement or assentan 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 negationCompare negative (def. 12)

noun

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

sentence substitute

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

affirmative

Origin of affirmative

OTHER WORDS FROM affirmative

Words related to affirmative

How to use affirmative in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for affirmative

Derived forms of affirmative