"Affirmative" is widely used in legal, military, and everyday contexts to convey agreement or a positive stance. In aviation and the military, it is often used as a standard response to indicate understanding or compliance. The word also appears in logical and grammatical studies, emphasizing positive statements as opposed to negatives.
affirmative in English
- affirmative⇄adj. 1. saying that some statement is a fact; answering ""yes""; affirming.
Ex. Her answer to my question was affirmative.
2. arguing in favor of a question being formally debated.
Ex. the affirmative side.
3. positive in manner - affirmative⇄adv. affirmatively.
- affirmative⇄affirmative, adjective, noun.
- affirmative⇄expr. in the affirmative, expressing agreement by saying ""yes""; agreeing.
Ex. The principal replied in the affirmative when we requested that we have an afternoon off for a class picnic. - affirmative⇄expr. the affirmative, the side arguing in favor of a question being formally debated.
Ex. The affirmative presented a strong argument, but the negative won the debate. - affirmative⇄noun a word or statement that says ""yes"" or agrees.
Ex. ""I will"" is an affirmative. - affirmative⇄noun affirmativeness.
affirmative in Gujarati ગુજરાતી
affirmative in Kannada ಕನ್ನಡ
affirmative in Sindhi سنڌي
affirmative in Tamil தமிழ்
affirmative in Urdu اُردُو
Affirmative
Part of Speech
Adjective, Noun
Pronunciation
/əˈfɜːr.mə.tɪv/
Definitions
- (Adjective) Expressing agreement or consent.
- (Adjective) Positive or optimistic in nature.
- (Noun) A statement of agreement or a confirmation.
Usage Examples
- The committee gave an affirmative response to the proposal.
- Her attitude towards life is highly affirmative.
Etymology
From Latin "affirmativus," meaning "asserting," derived from "affirmare," to assert or confirm.
Synonyms
- Yes
- Positive
- Agreement
Antonyms
- No
- Negative
- Denial
Translations
| Language | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Spanish | Afirmativo | /a.fiɾ.maˈti.βo/ |
| French | Affirmatif | /a.fiʁ.ma.tif/ |
| Hindi | सकारात्मक | /sə.kɑː.ɾɑːt.mək/ |
Regional Pronunciation Variations
- American English: /əˈfɜːr.mə.tɪv/
- British English: /əˈfɜː.mə.tɪv/
Historical Usage
The term "affirmative" has been in use since the late 14th century, initially in philosophical and legal contexts, and later widely adopted in general language.
Cultural Nuances
In certain cultures, affirmatives are used formally, often accompanied by gestures or specific verbal expressions, to signify consent or agreement in a respectful manner.