affirmative

adjective

af·fir·ma·tive | \ə-ˈfər-mə-tiv

Definition of affirmative

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

affirmative

noun

Definition of affirmative (Entry 2 of 2)

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 affirmative entry 1 sense 4) proposition

in the affirmative

: with an affirmative reply : with a reply that means "yes" He answered in the affirmative.

Other Words from affirmative Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about affirmative

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Synonyms & Antonyms for affirmative

Synonyms: Noun

yea, yes

Antonyms: Noun

nay, negative, no, non placet

Examples of affirmative in a Sentence

Adjective

She gave an affirmative answer, not a negative answer.

Noun

we have five affirmatives and two negatives for forming the committee

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

The social network has now responded in the affirmative, at least regarding Huawei, exacerbating the already-high tension between Facebook and U.S. lawmakers. — David Meyer, Fortune, "Facebook Now Admits It Also Shared Your Data with Chinese Phone Maker Huawei," 6 June 2018 Facebook’s response, coming in at over 400 words, would not answer in the affirmative or the negative. — Cyrus Farivar, Ars Technica, "In nearly 500 pages of answers, Facebook stonewalls some senators’ questions," 16 June 2018 Mayor Gary Golinski cast one of the affirmative votes. — Linda Girardi, Aurora Beacon-News, "Yorkville OKs delay in intersection improvements," 26 Apr. 2018 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

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

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

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.

History and Etymology for affirmative

Adjective

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

Noun

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French affirmatif, noun derivative of affirmatif affirmative entry 1

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