affix

1 of 2

verb

af·​fix ə-ˈfiks 

a-

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

ə-ˈfik-sə-bəl 

a-

adjective

affixation

ˌa-ˌfik-ˈsā-shən 

noun

affixment

ə-ˈfik-smənt 

a-

noun

affix

2 of 2

noun

af·​fix ˈa-ˌfiks 

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

ˈa-ˌfik-səl 

adjective

or affixial

a-ˈfik-sē-əl 

Synonyms

Verb

• attach
• bend
• fasten
• fix

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of affix in a Sentence

Verb

affix a first-class stamp to the envelope

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Snoop does have his own cereal, ice cream, cookbooks, apparel, even a coffee and kush mug complete with a functional ceramic pipe affixed to the handle. —Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 17 Nov. 2023

The new standards said that children kept in seclusion inside Tennessee’s juvenile detention centers could be locked into cells that are 50 square feet — about the size of a U-Haul cargo van — usually with a concrete slab for a bed and a metal toilet affixed to the wall. —Paige Pfleger, ProPublica, 16 Nov. 2023

In an adjacent area, with the guiding sheet of her design affixed to a pole of the loom, Rosaria Schito prepared to weave by loading her weft thread into a rotating machine in the back of the room (the sole motorized device involved in the creation of pieces at Le Costantine). —Sebastian Cabrices, Vogue, 14 Nov. 2023

The clamp mount is sturdy, can be affixed to anything 1.5 inches thick or less, and is strong enough to hold up against bumpy rides. —Katherine Alex Beaven, Travel + Leisure, 19 Oct. 2023

In a video that was shared to Jacob Arabo’s Instagram over the weekend, the watchmaker can be seen affixing a lavish Twin Turbo Furious to the Al Nassr forward’s wrist. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 6 Nov. 2023

Abdul Fattah Ibrahim, a Deir al-Balah resident who has four solar panels affixed to his roof, has opened up his home to strangers. —Taylor Luck, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Oct. 2023

Each of those letters and cards gets affixed with the town's Santa Claus postmark and is then sent along its way to make someone's holiday a little more special. —Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 30 Oct. 2023

Weighing less than 15 grams, the AR attachment device can be affixed to any glasses. —Ramsha Zubairi, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Oct. 2023

Noun

Since late 2020, the 23-year-old designer has been creating videos about her tambour embroidery work, a technique that affixes beads one at a time with a hooked needle. —Sakeina Syed, Vogue, 10 Nov. 2023

There is no actual affix difference between a rare dropping at 725 and 820 score. —Paul Tassi, Forbes, 17 July 2023

California wildlife biologists and staff with the Nevada Department of Wildlife immobilized the bear in order to collect DNA evidence, attach an ear tag and affix a satellite tracking collar to her. —Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 11 Aug. 2023

The only difference is the base armor or damage on a piece of gear, which often pales in comparison to getting a perfect roll of affixes. —Paul Tassi, Forbes, 17 July 2023

Starting at the bottom of the frame, affix a row of pom-pom trim using a hot-glue gun ($13, Target). —Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 May 2023

After all the years and shuffling, who’s left to blame? If 2023 continues its painful slide, the crosshairs firmly affix on Preller and baseball operations. —Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 June 2023

Find a veteran reliever with closing experience, affix him to the back of the bullpen, and then let Evan Phillips, Brusdar Graterol and Caleb Ferguson get comfortable in their roles around him. —Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2023

The best-in-slot affix rolls. —Paul Tassi, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2023

See More

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

Noun

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 affix entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

affix

1 of 2 verb

af·​fix ə-ˈfiks 

a-

1

: to attach physically : fasten

affix a stamp to a letter

2

: to attach in any way : add

affix a signature to a document

affix

2 of 2 noun

af·​fix ˈaf-ˌiks 

: a letter or a group of letters attached to the beginning or end of a word that serves to produce a derivative word or an inflectional form

Legal Definition

affix

transitive verb

af·​fix ə-ˈfiks, a- 

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