affectionate

adjective

af·​fec·​tion·​ate ə-ˈfek-sh(ə-)nət How to pronounce affectionate (audio)
1
: feeling or showing affection or warm regard : loving
affectionate friends
an affectionate nickname
2
: motivated by affection : tender
affectionate care
3
obsolete : inclined, disposed
affectionately adverb

Examples of affectionate in a Sentence

an affectionate child who gives hugs and kisses freely
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The fun doc features affectionate tributes from Michael Douglas, Martha Stewart, Mick Jagger, Diane von Furstenberg and Graydon Carter, to name a few celebrities the up-until-now elusive Pigozzi has become close with over the past five decades. Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025 And third wife Isabella Rossellini, while affectionate toward him, is candid about how angry and destructive Scorsese could be. Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 14 Oct. 2025 In all his videos, an affectionate and softly romantic vision of the city came through. Eric Lach, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2025 Franklin was affectionate in person but also adamant that William assign his American properties to Temple, to settle his debt to him for the years of subsidies. Stacy Schiff, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for affectionate

Word History

Etymology

partly borrowed from Medieval Latin affectiōnātus "inclined, disposed, well-disposed," from Latin affectiōn-, affectiō affection + -ātus -ate entry 3; partly formed from affection + -ate entry 3 after Middle French affectionné "having affection for," past participle of affectionner "to have affection for," derivative of affection

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of affectionate was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Affectionate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/affectionate. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

affectionate

adjective
af·​fec·​tion·​ate ə-ˈfek-sh(ə-)nət How to pronounce affectionate (audio)
: feeling or showing a great liking for a person or thing : loving
affectionately adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on affectionate

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