affirm
Americanverb (used with object)
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to state or assert positively; maintain as true.
to affirm one's loyalty to one's country; He affirmed that all was well.
- Synonyms:
- testify, depose, asseverate, aver
- Antonyms:
- deny
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to confirm or ratify.
The appellate court affirmed the judgment of the lower court.
-
to assert solemnly.
He affirmed his innocence.
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to express agreement with or commitment to; uphold; support.
to affirm human rights.
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to support (someone) by giving approval, recognition, or encouragement.
She described the unhappy memory of her father, who had neither disciplined nor affirmed her.
verb (used without object)
verb
-
(may take a clause as object) to declare to be true; assert positively
-
to uphold, confirm, or ratify
-
(intr) law to make an affirmation
Related Words
See declare.
Other Word Forms
- affirmable adjective
- affirmably adverb
- affirmer noun
- affirmingly adverb
- overaffirm verb
- preaffirm verb
- reaffirm verb (used with object)
Etymology
Origin of affirm
First recorded in 1300–50; from Latin affirmāre, equivalent to af- af- + firmāre “to make firm” ( firm 1 ); replacing Middle English a(f)fermen, from Middle French afermer, from Latin
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In 1898, a conservative Supreme Court upheld that rule and affirmed the citizenship of Wong Kim Ark. He was born in San Francisco to Chinese parents who later returned to China.
From Los Angeles Times
“It affirms what our communities have always known: You cannot investigate injustice without the power to uncover the truth,” Eke said.
From Los Angeles Times
“The Fourteenth Amendment affirms the ancient and fundamental rule of citizenship by birth within the territory,” the majority said, including “all children here born of resident aliens.”
“This new information affirms that guardrails on public-private partnerships are important in all instances and especially this one,” Pham said in a statement.
From Salon
But Section 35 of Canada’s 1982 Constitution “recognizes and affirms” Aboriginal rights.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
