affirmative

adjective af·fir·ma·tive \ ə-ˈfər-mə-tiv \

|Updated on: 20 Aug 2018

Examples: affirmative in a Sentence

Definition of affirmative

1 : asserting that the fact is so

gave an affirmative answer

affirmative proof

2 : positive

an affirmative approach

3 : favoring or supporting a proposition or motion

an affirmative vote

was on the affirmative side in the debate

4 logic : asserting a predicate of a subject

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affirmatively

adverb

- responded affirmatively

See affirmative defined for English-language learners

See affirmative defined for kids

Examples of affirmative in a Sentence

She gave an affirmative answer, not a negative answer.

Recent Examples of affirmative from the Web

Since 2003 five affirmative-action cases have come before the Supreme Court.

— The Economist, "A court with a solid conservative majority could reshape American life," 5 July 2018
The high court’s holding on affirmative consent ought to oblige the appellate judges to rule in favor of Mr. Messenger’s clients.

— james taranto, WSJ, "The Lawyers Who Beat the Unions," 29 June 2018
These questions have been answered in the affirmative.

— jonathan chait, Daily Intelligencer, "Will Trump Be Meeting With His Counterpart — Or His Handler?," 8 July 2018
About 51 percent of those without children in school would vote 'yes' on a referendum, and 71 percent of those with school kids answered in the affirmative.

— darryl enriquez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "New Berlin school officials learn support may exist for referendum to reduce debt," 27 June 2018
In Europe, lawmakers recently imposed stringent new restrictions on what kind of information technology companies can gather on people without their affirmative consent.

— maya kosoff, The Hive, "New Jersey Welcomes a New Surveillance State," 11 June 2018
White House senior counselor Kellyanne Conway upped the ante on Fox News Monday night, answering in the affirmative when asked whether there would be personnel changes in the White House as a result of these leaks.

— chris cillizza, CNN, "There's 1 very simple reason why this is the leakiest White House ever," 15 May 2018
Reichardt at 14:23, responding in the affirmative to question posed by Rep. Barnes.

— kansascity, "Read 2nd report from Missouri House committee investigating Greitens | The Kansas City Star," 24 Apr. 2018
Until 1995, there was no routine for putting unsuccessful affirmative applicants into immigration court.

— david a. martin, Vox, "How to fix the crisis caused by Central American asylum seekers — humanely," 2 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'affirmative.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of affirmative

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French affirmatif, borrowed from Late Latin affirmātīvus, from Latin affirmātus (past participle of affirmāre "to affirm") + -īvus -ive

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 4

See Words from the same year

Other Logic Terms

a posteriori, connotation, corollary, inference, mutually exclusive, paradox, postulate, syllogism

affirmative

noun

Definition of affirmative

1 : an expression (such as the word yes) of affirmation or assent

2 : the side that upholds the proposition stated in a debate

3 logic : an affirmative (see ¹affirmative 4) proposition

— in the affirmative

: with an affirmative reply : with a reply that means "yes"

He answered in the affirmative.

See affirmative defined for English-language learners

Examples of affirmative in a Sentence

we have five affirmatives and two negatives for forming the committee

Recent Examples of affirmative from the Web

Use liberally the affirmatives Yes, ma’am and Yes, sir, having grown up under threat of a stiff switch.

— melissa lyttle, Smithsonian, "The First Family of Rodeo," 13 Dec. 2017