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

"Everyone should have affordable, good healthcare, and not have to jump through all these hoops."

From BBC

Rising homeowner-association fees due to higher insurance premiums and maintenance costs are also making condominium purchases less affordable.

From The Wall Street Journal

It had faced criticism that it had been slow to release new and more affordable options to stay competitive.

From BBC

But still, why bother when there are more affordable ways to get fit?

From Los Angeles Times

Building additional affordable housing will take years and might not be completed during his time in office.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• cheap
• economical