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

Bondi has twice submitted affirmations to this court about the propriety of Lindsey Halligan’s grand jury presentation. —Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Nov. 2025

With that came affirmation of something Self mentioned during a hallway chat at Big 12 media day last month. —Kansas City Star, 22 Nov. 2025

Truth instead of hollow affirmation. —Danielle Bacher, PEOPLE, 11 Nov. 2025

His new album, Stardust, is his first recorded without substances, and trades self-examination for affirmation. —Stephen Kearse, Rolling Stone, 10 Nov. 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