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.

A bill last year that would have replicated the model for affordable housing projects died without a full vote in the Assembly.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

Tylorstown, Ferndale and Maerdy in the south Wales valleys were among the most affordable areas, with average house prices between £87,000 and £94,000.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

Fast fashion offers an affordable way to keep up with kids who quickly outgrow their clothes.

From Science Daily • Apr. 2, 2026

It may not have all the features or top-end components, but it was built to be affordable and plentiful.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

He wanted affordable health care for all Americans.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

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