How do you pronounce affirmative?

The recorded pronunciation is /əˈfɝməɾɪv/.

Where does affirmative come from?

It is traced to Middle English.

affirmative

/əˈfɝməɾɪv/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.57 in modern English

Syllables: af-fir-ma-tive
IPA: /əˈfɝməɾɪv/

Scrabble Score

Letters

Syllables

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

pertaining to truth; asserting that something is; affirming

adj

pertaining to any assertion or active confirmation that favors a particular result

adj

positive

adj

Confirmative; ratifying.

adj

Dogmatic.

adj

Expressing the agreement of the two terms of a proposition.

adj

positive; not negative

noun

Yes; an answer that shows agreement or acceptance.

Example Sentences

"an affirmative answer"
"an affirmative vote"
"an act affirmative of common law"
"Lyſicles vvas a little diſconcerted by the affirmative air of Crito; but after a ſhort pauſe replied briskly, […]"
"That’s an affirmative Houston, the space shuttle has lost the secondary thrusters."
"10-4 good buddy. That’s an affirmative—the tractor trailer is in the ditch at the side of the highway."

Etymology

From Middle English affirmative, affirmatyve, from Old French affirmatif, from Latin affirmativus, from affirmare (“to assert”).

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: *dʰer-, affirmative, affirmatif, affirmativus

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /əˈfɝməɾɪv/
British English: /əˈfɜːmətɪv/

Usage

Obsolete

Inflected Forms

more affirmative (comparative) most affirmative (superlative) affirmatives (plural)

Derived Forms

affirmatively affirmativeness affirmativism affirmativist affirmativity disaffirmative nonaffirmative

Phrases

affirmative action affirmative defense affirmative pregnant affirmative resolution affirmative waste apefirmative action trans-affirmative affirmative sentence

Frequently Paired Words

affirmative sentence

Synonyms

affirmatory approving approbative approbatory plausive optimistic

Antonyms

negative