Synonyms of affair

affair

noun

ə-ˈfer 

1

as in romance

also affaire a brief romantic relationship

an affair between two singles spending the summer at the same beach resort

Synonyms & Similar Words

• romance
• fling
• intrigue
• liaison
• love affair
• love
• amour
• dalliance
• infatuation
• flirtation
• entanglement
• attachment
• hanky-panky
• idyll
• passion
• puppy love
• calf-love

2

as in event

a social gathering

the annual country club dance is a really fancy affair

Synonyms & Similar Words

• event
• party
• reception
• celebration
• bash
• blowout
• fete
• shindig
• dance
• gala
• function
• blast
• get-together
• binge
• ball
• formal
• supper
• fund-raiser
• occasion
• do
• benefit
• orgy
• prom
• symposium
• soiree
• masquerade
• bacchanal
• tea
• social
• bacchanalia
• clambake
• cocktail party
• shower
• stag
• tea party
• house party
• saturnalia
• housewarming
• mixer
• salon
• bake
• hen party
• icebreaker
• meet and greet
• kegger
• klatch
• kaffeeklatsch

3

as in production

something produced by physical or intellectual effort

the lead float in the parade was a pretty impressive affair, a giant eagle's head with equally huge wings

Synonyms & Similar Words

• production
• product
• work
• yield
• result
• output
• outcome
• labor
• fruit
• thing
• produce
• handiwork
• resultant
• object
• article
• commodity
• entry
• development
• merchandise
• effect
• aftermath
• issue
• goods
• consequence
• sequence
• wares
• sequel
• conclusion
• outgrowth
• offspring
• upshot
• corollary
• handicraft
• derivative
• offshoot
• line
• side effect
• spin-off
• handcraft
• by-product
• aftereffect
• residual

4

as in incident

something that happens

the whole affair from start to finish took a total of 15 minutes

Synonyms & Similar Words

• event
• incident
• thing
• circumstance
• episode
• occurrence
• occasion
• happening
• accident
• experience
• time
• adventure
• phenomenon
• hap
• coincidence
• crisis
• fluke
• news
• landmark
• page
• emergency
• turning point
• milestone
• freak
• deed
• achievement
• juncture
• happenstance
• feat
• co-occurrence
• tidings
• exploit
• happenchance
• milepost

5

as in matter

something to be dealt with

it's none of your affair whom I'm going out with tonight

Synonyms & Similar Words

• matter
• thing
• business
• problem
• issue
• crisis
• concern
• worry
• consideration
• emergency
• predicament
• trouble
• ball of wax
• juncture
• responsibility
• exigency
• flash point
• strait
• care
• crunch
• zero hour
• impasse
• deadlock
• hot water
• standstill
• halt
• pickle
• jam
• stalemate
• crossroad(s)
• spot
• head
• fix
• corner
• hole
• lookout
• pinch
• scrape

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of affair

The production, directed by David Mendizábal and choreographed by Tony Thomas, is a joyous affair. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026

Rogers, meanwhile, wonders what will happen if the current state of affairs goes unchecked. — Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026

Ali Law, TikTok’s director of public policy and government affairs in Northern Europe, defended the platform, saying it’s designed with safety in mind, in a conversation with CNBC’s Karen Tso and Steve Sedgewick on Tuesday. — Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 15 July 2026

OpenAI’s device still has no release date, but in January, OpenAI’s chief global affairs officer Chris Lehane said it was set to unveil the product in the second half of this year. — Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 15 July 2026

Phrases Containing affair

• love affair