Meaning & use
affirmative
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivebefore a nounformal
Meaning yes, or showing agreement or support.
Grammar: Usually before a noun: an affirmative answer.
Patterns
- an affirmative answer
- an affirmative vote
The committee gave an affirmative response.
Eight members cast affirmative votes.
She nodded in an affirmative way.
nouncountableformal
A word or statement that means yes.
Grammar: Often after in the: He answered in the affirmative.
Patterns
- in the affirmative
She answered in the affirmative.
The pilot replied, 'Affirmative.'
adjectivebefore a nountechnical
In grammar, stating that something is true rather than negating it.
Grammar: Used about sentences: an affirmative sentence.
Patterns
- affirmative sentence
Change this affirmative sentence into a negative one.
Common combinations
- answer in the affirmative
- He answered in the affirmative.
- affirmative response
- We got an affirmative response.
- affirmative vote
- An affirmative vote passed it.
- affirmative action
- The college has affirmative action policies.
Synonyms and how they differ
- positive
- Positive is wider in meaning and everyday, while affirmative is a formal yes.
- favorable
- Favorable means approving or helpful, not necessarily a direct yes.
Opposites
Word family
- affirm verb
- to state firmly that something is true
- affirmation noun
- a statement of support
- affirmatively adverb
- in a way that says yes
Commonly confused: affirmative or confirmative?
affirmative vs confirmative
Confirmative means serving to confirm; affirmative simply means yes.
Practice
When asked if she would attend, she answered in the ___.
Choose one answer.
In the affirmative means said yes. In the negative would mean no.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “affirmative”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.