affable

[ af-uh-buhl ]

adjective

1. pleasantly easy to approach and to talk to; friendly; cordial; warmly polite:

   an affable and courteous gentleman.

   Synonyms: sociable, gracious, genial, approachable, amiable, accessible

   Antonyms: standoffish, distant, inaccessible, unapproachable, unsociable, unfriendly

2. showing warmth and friendliness; benign; pleasant:

   an affable smile.

affable

/ ˈæfəbəl /

adjective

1. showing warmth and friendliness; kindly; mild; benign
2. easy to converse with; approachable; amicable

Derived Forms

• ˈaffably, adverb
• ˌaffaˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• af·fa·bil·i·ty [af-, uh, -, bil, -i-tee], af·fa·ble·ness noun
• af·fa·bly adverb
• un·af·fa·ble adjective
• un·af·fa·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of affable¹

First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin affābilis “that can be spoken to, courteous,” equivalent to af- af- + fā- “speak” ( fate ) + -bilis -ble, perhaps via Middle French

Word History and Origins

Origin of affable¹

C16: from Latin affābilis easy to talk to, from affārī to talk to, from ad- to + fāri to speak; compare fable , fate

Synonym Study

See civil.

Example Sentences

He was open and affable when he won, and he was exactly the same when he lost.

From Los Angeles Times

The affable Robinson, a 2010 inductee to the College Football Hall of Fame, was known as much for his easygoing manner and sense of humor as for his tailback-dominated football teams.

From Los Angeles Times

Grateful Dead biographer David Browne wrote of Lesh, “Beneath that affable exterior lay a taskmaster and perfectionist.”

From Los Angeles Times

But I think that through the music, it’s a chance to see I’m pretty affable and down to earth and enjoy other people.

From Los Angeles Times

Whichever persona he assumes, attack dog or affable colleague, the lies are the one consistent feature of his speeches.

From Salon

Related Words

• amiable
• approachable
• courteous
• genial
• gentle
• good-humored
• good-natured
• gracious
• pleasant
• polite
• sociable
• urbane