affair

[ uh-fair ]

noun

1. anything done or to be done; anything requiring action or effort; business; concern:

   an affair of great importance.

2. affairs, matters of commercial or public interest or concern; the transactions of public or private business or finance:

   affairs of state; Before taking such a long trip you should put all your affairs in order.

3. an event or a performance; a particular action, operation, or proceeding:

   When did this affair happen?

4. thing; matter (applied to anything made or existing, usually with a descriptive or qualifying term):

   Our new computer is an amazing affair.

5. a private or personal concern; a special function, business, or duty:

   That's none of your affair.

6. an intense amorous relationship, usually of short duration.
7. an event or happening that occasions or arouses notoriety, dispute, and often public scandal; incident:

   the Congressional bribery affair.

8. a party, social gathering, or other organized festive occasion:

   The awards ceremony is the biggest affair on the school calendar.

affair

/ əˈfɛə /

noun

1. a thing to be done or attended to; matter; business

   this affair must be cleared up

2. an event or happening

   a strange affair

3. qualified by an adjective or descriptive phrase something previously specified, esp a man-made object; thing

   our house is a tumbledown affair

4. a sexual relationship between two people who are not married to each other

Word History and Origins

Origin of affair¹

1250–1300; earlier affaire < French, Old French afaire for a faire to do, equivalent to a (< Latin ad to) + faire ≪ Latin facere; replacing Middle English afere < Old French

Word History and Origins

Origin of affair¹

C13: from Old French, from à faire to do

Example Sentences

“The case is all but closed,” said Rimkunas, who oversees the Professional Standards Bureau, which includes internal affairs.

From Los Angeles Times

In 2001, this was broken up, with separate departments for environment, food and rural affairs, and for transport, hived off.

From BBC

At a press conference on Wednesday, the Zambian minister for home affairs said the MP had been arrested earlier this week in Harare.

From BBC

His reputation suffered in 2006 when he admitted to a two-year affair with a civil servant.

From New York Times

In 2006, he admitted to an affair with his former secretary Tracey Temple, which led to a raft of lurid stories.

From BBC

Related Words

• case
• employment
• event
• incident
• interest
• proceeding
• project
• question
• subject
• task
• thing
• topic
• transaction