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

Former President Bill Clinton is ready to share his thoughts about his 1998 affair with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky in his new memoir "Citizen."

From Salon

At the center of one biggest political scandals, Clinton opened up about his "frustration" about being questioned about his affair and the emotional state during the firestorm that followed.

From Salon

It is believed some of the jewels in the necklace sold on Wednesday were the original ones at the centre of the "affair of the diamond necklace" scandal in the 1780s, that may have hastened Marie Antoinette's demise.

From BBC

Although Marie Antoinette was found to be blameless, her reputation is thought to have been tarnished by the affair and she was unpopular among the French people, who accused her of being wasteful and a dangerous influence on the king.

From BBC

Mrs MacDonald was giving evidence for a second day having earlier told the jury that her husband had left her drenched in blood after attacking her in front of their children as he suspected she was having an affair.

From BBC

Related Words

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