Meaning & use
affirmation
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Meanings
nouncountable or uncountableformal
A firm statement that something is true or that you agree with it.
Grammar: Often followed by of: an affirmation of faith.
Patterns
- an affirmation of something
The speech was an affirmation of the nation's values.
He nodded as an affirmation.
Her ruling was an affirmation of the earlier decision.
noununcountable
Encouragement or emotional support that tells a person they are valued.
Grammar: Usually uncountable: children need affirmation.
Patterns
- affirmation from someone
Children thrive on affirmation from their parents.
She sought affirmation from her friends.
A kind word can be a powerful affirmation.
nouncountable
A short positive sentence that a person repeats to themselves to build confidence or change their thinking.
Grammar: Often plural: daily affirmations.
Patterns
- repeat an affirmation
Each morning she repeats a short affirmation in the mirror.
His affirmation was: I am capable and calm.
The app sends a daily affirmation to your phone.
nouncountablelegal
A formal promise to tell the truth in court made by someone who prefers not to swear an oath.
Grammar: A legal term, used instead of an oath.
Patterns
- make an affirmation
The witness made an affirmation instead of swearing on a book.
The clerk recorded her affirmation.
An affirmation has the same legal force as an oath.
Word forms
| plural | affirmations |
|---|
Common combinations
- positive affirmation
- Positive affirmation can lift a child's confidence.
- daily affirmation
- Her daily affirmation is written on a sticky note.
- seek affirmation
- He always seeks affirmation from his boss.
- affirmation of faith
- The service ended with an affirmation of faith.
- receive affirmation
- She received affirmation that her work mattered.
- solemn affirmation
- He gave a solemn affirmation before the judge.
Synonyms and how they differ
- confirmation
- Confirmation proves or checks that something is true, while affirmation is a declaration or a supportive statement.
- endorsement
- Endorsement is public approval, usually of a product or person, rather than a personal encouragement.
- assertion
- Assertion is a strong claim that may or may not be proven, whereas affirmation is more positive and supportive.
- validation
- Validation means recognizing that someone's feelings or ideas are acceptable, which is close to the emotional sense of affirmation.
Opposites
Word family
- affirm verb
- to state firmly that something is true
- affirmative adjective
- agreeing or saying yes
- affirmatively adverb
- in a way that says yes
- reaffirm verb
- to state again firmly
Commonly confused: affirmation or confirmation? affirmation or affectation?
affirmation vs confirmation
Confirmation checks or proves something already stated, while affirmation declares or supports it.
affirmation vs affectation
Affectation is behavior put on to impress others, and is unrelated to affirmation.
Practice
Every morning he writes a short, positive ___ on a note to boost his confidence.
Choose one answer.
An affirmation is a short positive statement repeated for confidence. Affectation means showy behavior, and confirmation means proof, so neither suits the self-help use.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “affirmation”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.