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View synonyms for affordable

affordable

[ uh-fawr-duh-buhl ]

adjective

  1. that can be afforded; believed to be within one's financial means:

    attractive new cars at affordable prices.



noun

  1. Usually affordables. items, expenses, etc., that one can afford:

    a variety of affordables for your gift list.

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Other Words From

  • af·forda·bili·ty noun
  • af·forda·bly adverb
  • unaf·forda·bili·ty noun
  • unaf·forda·ble adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of affordable1

First recorded in 1865–70; afford + -able
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Example Sentences

He supports nuclear and renewable energy technologies, including fusion, if they are “abundant, affordable, and reliable.”

"Unlike in the United States, pacemaker therapy is often not available or affordable for people in low- and middle-income countries. Our program is determined to change that."

Although she has made lamps, she prefers to focus on affordable goods that can go straight into someone’s home for them to enjoy.

Hernandez said her organization views the project as an affordable way of ensuring water reliability.

Now, they’re on the cusp of owning the property themselves — with a promise to keep it affordable and never make a significant profit from it.

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Related Words

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More About Affordable

What does affordable mean?

If something is affordable, it means its price is low enough that you (or most people) have enough money to buy it.

Affordable is the adjective form of the verb afford. If you can afford something, you have enough money to pay for it. Much less commonly, affordable can be used as a noun meaning an item that one can afford.

Example: Rachel wants to buy a luxury car, but with her budget I think she should consider a more affordable option.

Where does affordable come from?

Affordable comes from the much older word afford, which derives from the Old English geforthian, meaning “to further” or “to accomplish.” The suffix -able makes it an adjective.

The verb afford can be used in many situations, and not just those involving money, as in We can’t afford to lose another player to injuries. But affordable always relates to how much something costs. If something is affordable, it is within your financial means, meaning your income level. A lot of people set a budget to determine what is affordable at a certain time. Of course, what’s affordable for one person may not be affordable for another.

Affordable is often used by marketers and advertisers when they want to emphasize that something is being offered at a low price or a price that’s lower than normal, such as during a sale. It is also often used in phrases like affordable housing to indicate that a price level has been set so that it doesn’t exceed what people are able to pay.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to affordable?

  • afford (verb)
  • affordability (noun)
  • affordably (adverb)

What are some synonyms for affordable?

What are some words that share a root or word element with affordable?

What are some words that often get used in discussing affordable?

 

How is affordable used in real life?

Affordable is almost always used in the context of how much something costs or how much one is able to pay. It is often used in advertising to indicate that a product has a low price.

 

 

Try using affordable!

Is affordable used correctly in the following sentence?

For many people, a vacation simply isn’t affordable in this economy.

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affordAffordable Care Act