affirmative

adjective

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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 Phrases Containing affirmative Learn More About affirmative

Synonyms & Antonyms for affirmative

Synonyms: Noun

yea,
yes

Antonyms: Noun

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 Surrogacy, for Liubov, was not an act of desperation, but an affirmative act of self-improvement, even independence. — New York Times, 3 May 2022 Similarly, turning out those who voted for Biden in 2020—particularly young voters and people of color—requires Congress to build an affirmative case for Democrats to remain in power. — Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 3 May 2022 This position has been taken further by some, such as in the 2015 U.N. report, that fiduciaries have an affirmative duty to integrate ESG factors into all of their investments. — Matthew Erskine, Forbes, 31 Aug. 2021 And Radical Republicans were disappointed that the voting section wasn’t fully affirmative. — Patrick Caldwell, The New Republic, 21 Apr. 2022 In one preview attended by this critic, an audience member, moved by the Lady in Green (the brilliant if subdued Okpokwasili), released an affirmative, encouraging shout in response to a poem. — Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Apr. 2022 The measure passed the House on a 56-18-1 decision, gaining 10 affirmative votes since the body voted on the last-minute Senate amendment on March 4 — the final day of the 2022 General Session — and hit the two-thirds majority needed to override. — Daedan Olander, The Salt Lake Tribune, 25 Mar. 2022 The question has been asked in Illinois, but no affirmative answer has been given. — Steve Sadin, chicagotribune.com, 28 Jan. 2022 But in the 1960s and 1970s a series of court decisions, affirmative-action policies, laws and executive orders mandated that universities no longer exclude women and minorities for either study or employment. — Ann Finkbeiner, Scientific American, 21 Mar. 2022 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, 13 Dec. 2017 See More

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