affection

¹

[ uh-fek-shuhn ]

noun

1. fond attachment, devotion, or love:

   the affection of a parent for an only child.

   Synonyms: friendliness, friendship, fondness, amity, liking

   Antonyms: dislike

2. Often affections.
   1. emotion; feeling; sentiment:

      over and above our reason and affections.

   2. the emotional realm of love:

      a place in his affections.

3. Pathology. a disease, or the condition of being diseased; abnormal state of body or mind:

   a gouty affection.

4. the act of affecting; act of influencing or acting upon.
5. the state of being affected.
6. Philosophy. a contingent, alterable, and accidental state or quality of being.
7. the affective aspect of a mental process.
8. bent or disposition of mind.
9. Obsolete. bias; prejudice.

affection

²

[ uh-fek-shuhn ]

noun

, Obsolete.

1. affectation ( defs 1, 2, 3 ).

affection

/ əˈfɛkʃən /

noun

1. a feeling of fondness or tenderness for a person or thing; attachment
2. often plural emotion, feeling, or sentiment

   to play on a person's affections

3. pathol any disease or pathological condition
4. psychol any form of mental functioning that involves emotion See also affect 1
5. the act of affecting or the state of being affected
6. archaic.
   inclination or disposition

Derived Forms

• afˈfectional, adjective

Other Words From

• af·fection·less adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of affection¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin affectiōn- (stem of affectiō ) “disposition or state of mind or body”; affect ¹, -ion

Origin of affection²

First recorded in 1525–35; affect ² + -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of affection¹

C13: from Latin affectiōn- disposition, from afficere to affect ¹

Example Sentences

They may include everything from instinctual reactions of disgust or fear to deep feelings of affection and empathy for others.

From Science Daily

Gabbard and Trump share a weird affection for Vladimir Putin but they also share a belief that they are being persecuted by the U.S.

From Salon

In scenes showing Dolours' commitment to the mission clashing with her affection for her friends, the actor’s stoic expressiveness is heartbreaking.

From Salon

She held a special place in the nation’s heart as queen of its longest-running radio drama, and was thought of with enormous affection by her fellow cast members.

From BBC

“The family thanks everyone for this outpouring of affection.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• care
• closeness
• desire
• devotion
• emotion
• feeling
• friendship
• good will
• kindness
• love
• passion
• sentiment
• tenderness
• warmth

When To Use

What are other ways to say affection?

Affection refers to fond attachment, as of one person to another. How is affection different from love and devotion? Find out on Thesaurus.com.