affordable

American  

[uh-fawr-duh-buhl] / əˈfɔr də bəl /

adjective

1. that can be afforded; believed to be within one's financial means.

   attractive new cars at affordable prices.

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noun

1. Usually affordables. items, expenses, etc., that one can afford.

   a variety of affordables for your gift list.

Usage

What does affordable mean? If something is affordable, it means its price is low enough that you (or most people) have enough money to buy it.Affordable is the adjective form of the verb afford. If you can afford something, you have enough money to pay for it. Much less commonly, affordable can be used as a noun meaning an item that one can afford.Example: Rachel wants to buy a luxury car, but with her budget I think she should consider a more affordable option.

Other Word Forms

• affordability noun
• affordably adverb
• unaffordability noun
• unaffordable adjective

Etymology

Origin of affordable

First recorded in 1865–70; afford + -able

Example Sentences

We need a high-low mix: smaller numbers of exquisite, expensive weapons for our smaller numbers of high-end threats, alongside a more affordable, more producible class of weapons for our larger number of lower-end threats.

From The Wall Street Journal

Apple’s smallest and most affordable desktop computer will soon be produced in the U.S., a step toward fulfilling the company’s investing commitment.

From Barron's

And the likes of Zudio and Max have brought about the "trendification" of affordable fashion for the first time, appealing to Gen-Z and young millennial buyers, by trawling the latest fads in Paris and Milan.

From BBC

Problems with employment contract terms, access to affordable housing, and consumer rights remained the key issues in 2025, the charity said.

From BBC

Cabbage is everything we need in food right now: affordable, abundant, nourishing.

From Salon

Related Words

• cheap
• economical