Definition of affirm
transitive verb
1a : validate, confirm He was affirmed as a candidate.b : to state positively He affirmed his innocence.
2 : to assert (something, such as a judgment or decree) as valid or confirmed The court affirmed his conviction.
3 : to show or express a strong belief in or dedication to (something, such as an important idea) laws affirming the racial equality of all people
intransitive verb
1 : to testify or declare by affirmation (see affirmation 2) as distinguished from swearing an oath
2 : to uphold a judgment or decree of a lower court
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Examples of affirm in a Sentence
We cannot affirm that this painting is genuine.
They neither affirmed nor denied their guilt.
laws affirming the racial equality of all peoples
They continued to affirm their religious beliefs.
The decision was affirmed by a higher court.
Recent Examples of affirm from the Web
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The Supreme Court has traditionally affirmed expansive civil forfeiture rules by reference to colonial practices rooted in admiralty, piracy, and customs law.
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The mayors affirmed that the ports’ 2017 clean-air blueprint, which is expected to be released Wednesday, will include further emissions reductions from ships and the development of a zero-emissions truck pilot program.
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Michael Key had appealed to the appeals court asking for a review on the decisions of both the Jefferson County Personnel Board and the Jefferson County Circuit Court to affirm Irondale's suspension of him for 60 days without pay.
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A flower yet to bloom In recent years, however, officials in Guizhou have become more wary of attempts to affirm Chuanqing identity.
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This was before the landmark 1973 case Roe v. Wade, which affirmed a woman’s right to seek an abortion.
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Vines believes there's a slow, steady trajectory toward evangelicals affirming gay marriage.
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And what on earth was the purpose of equivocating about the critical commitment to Article 5 of the NATO Treaty, undermining the core underpinning of the Atlantic alliance — and then affirming it anyway?
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Trustee Don Burroway said the mobile speed sign on Lord Avenue affirms what he's known.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'affirm.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of affirm
Middle English affermen, from Anglo-French afermer, from Latin affirmare, from ad- + firmare to make firm, from firmus firm — more at firm
Synonym Discussion of affirm
AFFIRM Defined for English Language Learners
affirm
playDefinition of affirm for English Language Learners
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: to say that something is true in a confident way
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: to show a strong belief in or dedication to (something, such as an important idea)
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law : to decide that the judgment of another court is correct
AFFIRM Defined for Kids
affirm
playDefinition of affirm for Students
affirmed
;affirming
: to declare that something is true The man affirms that he is innocent.
Law Dictionary
affirm
playLegal Definition of affirm
1 : to assert as true or factual
2 : to assert (as a judgment) as valid or confirmed affirmed the lower court's ruling — compare remand, reverse
intransitive verb
1 : to make a solemn declaration under the penalties of perjury in place of swearing an oath to which one conscientiously objects
2 : to uphold the judgment or actions of a lower court the appeals court affirmed
Learn More about affirm
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See words that rhyme with affirm Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for affirm Spanish Central: Translation of affirm Nglish: Translation of affirm for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of affirm for Arabic speakers
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