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.

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of affordable¹

First recorded in 1865–70; afford + -able

Example Sentences

A key Los Angeles City Council committee signed off on a sweeping rezoning plan Tuesday that would focus new market rate and affordable housing on commercial corridors and in existing dense residential neighborhoods.

From Los Angeles Times

This could dramatically reduce the amount of tritium needed to start up and maintain fusion reactions, leading to more compact and affordable fusion systems.

From Science Daily

At the same time, two affordable housing projects have stalled, incensing advocates who say the government is leaving homeless people with few options other than leaving town or jail time.

From Los Angeles Times

Though many homeless people struggle with addiction and mental illness, the strongest driver of homelessness is the lack of affordable housing, research shows.

From Los Angeles Times

The restaurants’ affordable prices and use of higher-quality ingredients set Fresh Brothers apart in the crowded field of pizza chains, Majewski said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cheap
• economical

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?

• economical
• low-cost
• reasonable (as in reasonable prices)

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

• affordable housing
• Affordable Care Act

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

 

• price
• cost
• inexpensive
• cheap
• purchase
• means
• budget
• income
• sale
• cost-effective
• thrifty

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.

until I got a Xbox 360 and that was because it was cheap I wanted that PS3 but I ended up going with the more affordable option. People should just not worry about which will be more powerful. Heck the PS4 is less powerful than the Xbox One X but it’s been delivering on games.

— Manuel (@Ultra_MSV) March 19, 2020

The C920 is a pretty good and affordable choice!

— M.H. Williams (@AutomaticZen) March 22, 2020

I filed today to run for re-election in SC-06 to continue my work to make America's greatness accessible and affordable for all.

I hope you will join me in this effort. pic.twitter.com/xskEYM0A97

— Jim Clyburn SC-06 (@ClyburnSC06) March 16, 2020

 

 

Try using affordable!

Is affordable used correctly in the following sentence?

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