affordable

American

[uh-fawr-duh-buhl] / əˈfɔr də bəl /

adjective

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

attractive new cars at affordable prices.

noun

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The agency added that its mailing prices remain the most affordable in the world.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

“This investment of $360 million is to build, preserve and enhance affordable housing across Los Angeles,” Jurado said at a news conference in Boyle Heights.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

Tesla has been talking about making more affordable models for years.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

The company's affordable, customisable AI tools have been widely adopted in China, and are also popular in emerging markets such as Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

Many young parents had trouble finding affordable child care.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023