affirmative

[ uh-fur-muh-tiv ]

adjective

1. affirming or assenting; asserting the truth, validity, or fact of something.
2. expressing agreement or consent; assenting:

   an affirmative reply.

3. positive; not negative.
4. Logic. noting a proposition in which a property of a subject is affirmed, as “All men are happy.”

noun

1. something that affirms or asserts; a positive statement or proposition; affirmation.
2. a reply indicating assent, as Yes or I do.
3. a manner or mode that indicates assent:

   a reply in the affirmative.

4. the side, as in a debate, that affirms or defends a statement that the opposite side denies or attacks:

   to speak for the affirmative.

interjection

1. (used to indicate agreement, assent, etc.):

   “Is this the right way to Lake George?” “Affirmative.”

affirmative

/ əˈfɜːmətɪv /

adjective

1. confirming or asserting something as true or valid

   an affirmative statement

2. indicating agreement or assent

   an affirmative answer

3. logic
   1. (of a categorial proposition) affirming the satisfaction by the subject of the predicate, as in all birds have feathers; some men are married
   2. not containing negation Compare negative

noun

1. a positive assertion
2. a word or phrase stating agreement or assent, such as yes (esp in the phrase answer in the affirmative )
3. logic an affirmative proposition
4. the affirmative
   the side in a debate that supports the proposition

sentence substitute

1. military a signal codeword used to express assent or confirmation

Derived Forms

• afˈfirmatively, adverb

Other Words From

• af·firma·tive·ly adverb
• over·af·firma·tive adjective
• over·af·firma·tive·ly adverb
• preaf·firma·tive adjective
• quasi-af·firma·tive adjective
• quasi-af·firma·tive·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of affirmative¹

1400–50; < Latin affirmātīvus, equivalent to affirmāt- ( affirmation ) + -īvus -ive; replacing late Middle English affirmatyff < Middle French < Latin

Example Sentences

She and other detractors also argue the bill’s affirmative defense provision would place extra burden on defendants because it could require them to produce documentation in their defense which can lead to costly litigation.

From Digiday

He also helped establish one of the federal government’s first affirmative action programs, the so-called Philadelphia Plan, which set goals for minority employment at federally subsidized construction sites.

From Washington Post

Another recent celebrity disclosure seems to offer a disappointingly affirmative answer to that question.

From Washington Blade

A Labor Department spokesperson told Axios that the agency "appreciates Microsoft's assurance on its website that it is not engaging in racial preferences or quotas in seeking to reach its affirmative action and outreach goals."

From Axios

Allowing Los Angeles to pass an affirmative action policy would allow it to more quickly diversify its workforce, she argues.

From Voice of San Diego

His was one of six votes against the day, which received 90 votes in the affirmative.

From The Daily Beast

In another unusual move, the grand jury considered not only the basic elements of the crime, but also affirmative defenses.

From The Daily Beast

A sizable number of Asian Americans feel that affirmative action, in college admissions or elsewhere, has hurt them personally.

From The Daily Beast

And how could an accused person prove affirmative consent, especially of the nonverbal variety?

From The Daily Beast

And Derbyshire “always assume[s] that any black person in a well-paid position is an Affirmative Action hire.”

From The Daily Beast

She asks if the piece shown to her by the saleswoman is all silk, who makes an affirmative reply.

From Project Gutenberg

The attendant stooped over the bed to ascertain, and nodded in the affirmative.

From Project Gutenberg

We are ourselves satisfied, and undertake to demonstrate to our readers, that this question must be answered in the affirmative.

From Project Gutenberg

Mr. Boar, who had watched his approach, rose at the removal of the hat, and replied in the affirmative.

From Project Gutenberg

Fagin nodded in the affirmative, and pointing in the direction of Saffron Hill, inquired whether any one was up yonder to-night.

From Project Gutenberg