affirm

[ uh-furm ]

verb (used with object)

1. to state or assert positively; maintain as true:

   to affirm one's loyalty to one's country; He affirmed that all was well.

   Synonyms: testify, depose, asseverate, aver

   Antonyms: deny

2. to confirm or ratify:

   The appellate court affirmed the judgment of the lower court.

   Synonyms: endorse, approve

3. to assert solemnly:

   He affirmed his innocence.

4. to express agreement with or commitment to; uphold; support:

   to affirm human rights.

5. to support (someone) by giving approval, recognition, or encouragement:

   She described the unhappy memory of her father, who had neither disciplined nor affirmed her.

verb (used without object)

1. Law.
   1. to state something solemnly before a court or magistrate, but without oath.
   2. to ratify and accept a voidable transaction.
   3. (of an appellate court) to determine that the action of the lower court shall stand.

affirm

/ əˈfɜːm /

verb

1. may take a clause as object to declare to be true; assert positively
2. to uphold, confirm, or ratify
3. intr law to make an affirmation

Derived Forms

• afˈfirmer, noun

Other Words From

• af·firm·a·ble adjective
• af·firm·a·bly adverb
• af·firm·er noun
• af·firm·ing·ly adverb
• o·ver·af·firm verb
• pre·af·firm verb
• re·af·firm verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of affirm¹

First recorded in 1300–50; from Latin affirmāre, equivalent to af- af- + firmāre “to make firm” ( firm ¹ ); replacing Middle English a(f)fermen, from Middle French afermer, from Latin

Word History and Origins

Origin of affirm¹

C14: via Old French from Latin affirmāre to present (something) as firm or fixed, assert, from ad- to + firmāre to make firm ¹

Synonym Study

See declare.

Example Sentences

A tech company is affirming that automating certain decisions may not, in fact, be the smart thing to do — tacitly acknowledging that removing human agency can generate harm.

From TechCrunch

As a scholar whose research focuses on the ethics of communication and as a yoga teacher, I’m interested in how people use rituals and rhetoric to affirm their interconnectedness with one another – and with the world.

From No Straight News

First, they needed to affirm that things were indeed quieter.

From Popular-Science

We believe that it’s every American’s responsibility to do what they can to affirm, safeguard, and advance the health of our democracy.

From Fortune

PFLAG envisions a world where diversity is celebrated and all people are affirmed, valued, and respected.

From No Straight News

But Scott, in taking the parlance of the street to the SportsCenter desk, helped affirm its ascendance.

From The Daily Beast

Advocates claimed that it helped to preserve virtue and to affirm the application of Sharia law.

From The Daily Beast

What is worse, it does so only to affirm sexist stereotypes.

From The Daily Beast

So when we progress, when we affirm ourselves, we should not threaten them.

From The Daily Beast

I believe this because these ideals that we affirm are true.

From The Daily Beast

To fix on any one stage in such an evolution, detach it, affirm it, is to wrest a true scripture to its destruction.

From Project Gutenberg

For my part, I scarcely know what to say; inasmuch as I do not care either to affirm or deny a thing of which I have no proof.

From Project Gutenberg

Some affirm that he wrote to please royalty, but if so why did he not condemn the custom to appease the wrath of a sapient king.

From Project Gutenberg

In my opinion, the situation of Candy is most beautiful, but many affirm that it is too near the mountains, and lies in a pit.

From Project Gutenberg

Many travellers affirm that the Taj-Mehal produces a magical effect when lighted by the moon.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• assert
• confirm
• declare
• guarantee
• insist
• maintain
• profess
• ratify
• repeat