adj
Meaning 1
pertaining to truth; asserting that something is; affirming
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
- an affirmative answer
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
affirmative
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
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Received-Pronunciation: /əˈfɜːmətɪv/
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US: /əˈfɝməɾɪv/
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US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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CMU ARPABET: AH0 F ER1 M AH0 T IH0 V Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
adj
Meaning 2
pertaining to any assertion or active confirmation that favors a particular result
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adj
Meaning 3
positive
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
- an affirmative vote
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adj
Meaning 4
Confirmative; ratifying.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
- an act affirmative of common law
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adj
Meaning 5
Dogmatic.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adj
Meaning 6
Expressing the agreement of the two terms of a proposition.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: human-sciences, logic, mathematics, philosophy, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adj
Meaning 7
positive; not negative
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: algebra, mathematics, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
intj
Meaning 8
Yes.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
intj
Meaning 9
Yes; true; correct.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: especially
Topics: broadcasting, government, media, military, politics, radio, radio-communications, war
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 10
Yes; an answer that shows agreement or acceptance.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
- That’s an affirmative Houston, the space shuttle has lost the secondary thrusters.
- 10-4 good buddy. That’s an affirmative—the tractor trailer is in the ditch at the side of the highway.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: negative
noun
Meaning 11
An answer that shows agreement or acceptance.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: grammar, human-sciences, linguistics, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 12
An assertion.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adjective
Meaning 13
affirming or giving assent
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- an affirmative decision
- affirmative votes
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: affirmatory
Antonyms: negative
adjective satellite
Meaning 14
expressing or manifesting praise or approval
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- approbative criticism
- an affirmative nod
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: approving, approbative, approbatory, plausive
Antonyms: none provided
adjective satellite
Meaning 15
expecting the best
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- an affirmative outlook
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: optimistic
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 16
a reply of affirmation
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- he answered in the affirmative
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: negative
Broader terms: avowal, avouchment, affirmation
Narrower terms: yes, yea, double negative
History
Etymology
From Middle English affirmative, affirmatyve, from Old French affirmatif, from Latin affirmativus, from affirmare (“to assert”).
Across languages
Translations
30 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Bulgarian: утвърдителен (utvǎrditelen) — pertaining to truth
- Catalan: afirmatiu — pertaining to truth
- Finnish: myöntävä — pertaining to truth
- French: affirmatif — pertaining to truth
- German: affirmativ — pertaining to truth
- Ancient Greek: κατωμοτικός (katōmotikós) — pertaining to truth
- Portuguese: afirmativo — pertaining to truth
- Portuguese: positivo — pertaining to truth
- Russian: утверди́тельный (utverdítelʹnyj) — pertaining to truth
- Spanish: afirmativo — pertaining to truth
- Bulgarian: положителен (položitelen) — positive
- Finnish: puoltava — positive
- French: affirmatif — positive
- German: affirmativ — positive
- Ancient Greek: θετικός (thetikós) — positive
- Irish: dearfach — positive
- Polish: afirmacyjny — positive
- Polish: afirmatywny — positive
- Russian: положи́тельный (položítelʹnyj) — positive
- Spanish: positivo — positive
- Welsh: cadarnhaol — positive
- Russian: так то́чно (tak tóčno) — (military) yes; true; correct
- Catalan: afirmativa — answer that shows agreement or acceptance
- Dutch: bevestigende zin — answer that shows agreement or acceptance
- Finnish: myöntölause — answer that shows agreement or acceptance
- Norwegian: bekreftes — answer that shows agreement or acceptance
- Norwegian: tiltredes — answer that shows agreement or acceptance
- Portuguese: afirmativa — answer that shows agreement or acceptance
- Russian: утверди́тельный (utverdítelʹnyj) — answer that shows agreement or acceptance
- Spanish: afirmativa — answer that shows agreement or acceptance
Real reading context