affix

verb af·fix \ ə-ˈfiks , a- \

|Updated on: 8 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: affix in a Sentence

Definition of affix

affixed; affixing; affixes

transitive verb

1 : to attach physically

affix a stamp to a letter

2 : to attach in any way : add, append

affix a signature to a document

3 : impress

affixed my seal

—

affixable

play \-ˈfik-sə-bəl\ adjective

—

affixation

play \ˌa-ˌfik-ˈsā-shən\ noun

—

affixment

play \ə-ˈfik-smənt, a-\ noun

See affix defined for English-language learners

See affix defined for kids

Examples of affix in a Sentence

affix a first-class stamp to the envelope

Recent Examples of affix from the Web

Sinnott’s law would implement a universal sign system for people with mobility issues, with emergency placards affixed near their front doors.

— lizzie johnson, SFChronicle.com, "Regret haunts Wine Country fire hero: ‘I’ve never cried this much’," 13 July 2018
Then used metal handcuffs to affix Audrey to the wall.

— max londberg, kansascity, "KC-area bouncers wrongly imprisoned women, suit says. They settle for $1 million," 28 June 2018
Modifications were made along the way, and portions of the mosaic were put together on tables before being affixed to the exterior of the building.

— caitlin mullen, chicagotribune.com, "'You are putting your mark on it': Students creating mural at Julian Middle School in Oak Park," 25 June 2018
In the future, the team hopes to put its technology to more practical uses by affixing microstructures that can detect specific molecules onto optical fibers.

— brigit katz, Smithsonian, "Scientists Built the World’s Smallest House," 24 May 2018
Larson told me, referring to the warning stickers that California state law required them to affix.

— ian frisch, Longreads, "The Strike: Chemicals, Cancer, and the Fight for Health Care," 16 Apr. 2018
Chairlifts, however, had not yet been invented, so Black had a conundrum: how to affix a skier to that overhead cable.

— brian irwin, BostonGlobe.com, "Black Mountain, N.H., might just be the best kept secret in the Northeast," 14 Mar. 2018
As with the Indianapolis 500’s Borg-Warner Trophy, the intention is for the name of each year’s race winner to be affixed to its base in perpetuity.

— andrew wendler, Car and Driver, "Trophy Life: How GM’s XP-21 Firebird I Arrived atop the Daytona 500’s Coveted Harley J. Earl Award," 23 Feb. 2018
Giacometti was a master of affixing tiny animals and curling leaves to the bronze framework of his designs, lending them a fey quality; Anthonioz eschews ornament, preferring sleek minimalist shapes.

— nancy hass, New York Times, "Inside a Parisian Sculptor’s World of Wonders," 21 Feb. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of affix

borrowed from Latin affīxus, past participle of affīgere "to fasten (to), attach," from ad- ad- + fīgere "to drive in, insert" — more at ¹fix

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

affix Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of affix

fasten, fix, attach, affix mean to make something stay firmly in place. fasten implies an action such as tying, buttoning, nailing, locking, or otherwise securing.

- fasten the reins to a post

fix usually implies a driving in, implanting, or embedding.

- fixed the stake in the ground

attach suggests a connecting or uniting by a bond, link, or tie in order to keep things together.

- attach the W-2 form here

affix implies an imposing of one thing on another by gluing, impressing, or nailing.

- affix your address label here

affix

noun af·fix \ ˈa-ˌfiks \

Definition of affix

1 grammar : one or more sounds or letters occurring as a bound form attached to the beginning or end of a word, base, or phrase or inserted within a word or base and serving to produce a derivative word or an inflectional form

The affix in the word "attendance" is "-ance."

2 : appendage

—

affixal

play \-ˌfik-səl\ or affixial play \a-ˈfik-sē-əl\ adjective

See affix defined for English-language learners

Origin and Etymology of affix

borrowed from Middle French affixe "notice, placard, element added to the base or stem of a word (originally in Hebrew grammar)," borrowed from Latin affīxus, past participle of affīgere "to fasten (to), attach" — more at ¹affix

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1600

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms

ablaut, allusion, anacoluthon, diacritic, gerund, idiom, infinitive, metaphor, semiotics, simile

AFFIX Defined for English Language Learners

affix

verb

Definition of affix for English Language Learners

: to attach (something) to something else

affix

noun

Definition of affix for English Language Learners

grammar : a letter or group of letters added to the beginning or end of a word to change its meaning : a prefix or suffix

AFFIX Defined for Kids

affix

verb af·fix \ ə-ˈfiks \

Definition of affix for Students

affixed; affixing

1 : to attach firmly

Affix the stamp to the envelope.

2 : to add to something else

He affixed his signature to the letter.

affix

noun af·fix \ ˈa-ˌfiks \

Definition of affix for Students

: a letter or group of letters (as a prefix or suffix) that comes at the beginning or end of a word and has a meaning of its own

Law Dictionary

affix

transitive verb af·fix \ ə-ˈfiks, a- \

legal Definition of affix

1 : to attach physically

2 : to attach or add in any way

affix a signature to a document

3 : to make by or as if by pressure

affix my seal

Learn More about affix

See words that rhyme with affix Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for affix Spanish Central: Translation of affix Nglish: Translation of affix for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of affix for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about affix

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affix

Definition of affix

affixable

affixation

affixment

Examples of affix in a Sentence

Recent Examples of affix from the Web

Origin and Etymology of affix

affix Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Synonym Discussion of affix

affix

Definition of affix

affixal

Origin and Etymology of affix

Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms

AFFIX Defined for English Language Learners

affix

Definition of affix for English Language Learners

affix

Definition of affix for English Language Learners

AFFIX Defined for Kids

affix

Definition of affix for Students

affix

Definition of affix for Students

Law Dictionary

affix

legal Definition of affix

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