affirmative
English
Etymology
From Middle English affirmative, affirmatyve, from Old French affirmatif, from Latin affirmativus, from affirmare (“to assert”).
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /əˈfɜːmətɪv/
- (US) IPA(key): /əˈfɝmətɪv/
Audio (US) (file)
Adjective
affirmative (comparative more affirmative, superlative most affirmative)
- pertaining to truth; asserting that something is; affirming
- an affirmative answer
- pertaining to any assertion or active confirmation that favors a particular result
- positive
- an affirmative vote
- Confirmative; ratifying.
- an act affirmative of common law
- dogmatic
- 1732, George Berkeley, Alciphron, or the Minute Philosopher
- Lysicles was a little disconcerted by the affirmative air of Crito.
- 1732, George Berkeley, Alciphron, or the Minute Philosopher
- (logic) Expressing the agreement of the two terms of a proposition.
- (algebra) positive; not negative
Derived terms
- affirmative action
- affirmative defense
- affirmatively
- affirmative pregnant
- affirmative resolution
- affirmative waste
- apefirmative action
- trans-affirmative
Translations
pertaining to truth
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positive
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked
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Noun
affirmative (plural affirmatives)
- Yes; an answer that shows agreement or acceptance.
- That's an affirmative Houston, the space shuttle has lost the secondary thrusters.
- 10-4 good buddy. That's an affirmative - the tractor trailer is in the ditch at the side of the highway.
- Antonym: negative
- (grammar) An answer that shows agreement or acceptance.
- (obsolete) An assertion.
- 1646, Sir Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica, III.17:
- that every hare is both male and female, beside the vulgar opinion, was the affirmative of Archelaus, of Plutarch, Philostratus, and many more.
- 1646, Sir Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica, III.17:
Translations
answer that shows agreement or acceptance
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Interjection
affirmative
- An elaborate synonym for the word yes.
- (military, especially radio communications) Yes; true; correct.
Translations
(military) yes; true; correct
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See also
- affirmative sentence
References
- affirmative at OneLook Dictionary Search
French
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /a.fiʁ.ma.tiv/
Audio (CAN) (file)
Adjective
affirmative
- feminine singular of affirmatif
German
Pronunciation
Audio (file)
Adjective
affirmative
- inflection of affirmativ:
- strong/mixed nominative/accusative feminine singular
- strong nominative/accusative plural
- weak nominative all-gender singular
- weak accusative feminine/neuter singular
Latin
Adjective
affirmātīve
- vocative masculine singular of affirmātīvus