affirmation

noun

af·​fir·​ma·​tion ˌa-fər-ˈmā-shən 

1

a

: the act of affirming

nodded his head in affirmation

b

: something affirmed : a positive assertion

His memoir is a reflective affirmation of family love.

2

law : a solemn declaration made under the penalties of perjury by a person who conscientiously declines taking an oath

Synonyms

• declaration
• assertion
• insistence

Examples of affirmation in a Sentence

a sworn affirmation that he had never acted as a spy for the enemy

Recent Examples on the Web

But as the novel progressed, her desire for affirmation only swelled. —Via Scribner, Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2025

These laws compel an affirmation-only approach to treatment plans and impose a chilling effect on counselors otherwise willing to intervene, challenge, or outright attempt to disrupt a child’s feelings of dysphoria, as opposed to fueling their gender confusion. —Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 6 Oct. 2025

For other members of the trans community, owning a gun is not only a source of protection but a form of gender affirmation. —Grace Byron, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025

But there’s no visual affirmation in the form of flashbacks. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 2 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English affirmacioun, borrowed from Anglo-French affirmation, affermacion, borrowed from Latin affirmātiōn-, affirmātiō, from affirmāre "to affirm" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing affirmation

• gender affirmation surgery
• self-affirmation

Rhymes for affirmation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation