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 of affirmation

• 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

Ferrari believes therapy can sometimes lean too heavily on affirmation and explanation without helping clients move toward meaningful change. — Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 15 July 2026

When the period of mourning culminates 40 days later, Arbaeen serves as an affirmation of devotion to Ḥusayn and Muhammad’s family. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 July 2026

For Wilson, and for Bulls fans who endured a flatlining franchise, Friday felt like an affirmation. — Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 11 July 2026

The court’s term that ended last week is the most robust judicial affirmation of executive power over immigration in the court’s history, said Muzaffar Chishti, a senior fellow at the Migration Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank. — Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026

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