TOP

Definition of affirmative adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

affirmative

adjective
 
/əˈfɜːmətɪv/
 
/əˈfɜːrmətɪv/
 (formal)
jump to other results
  1. an affirmative word or reply means ‘yes’ or expresses agreement
    • an affirmative response to the question
    Topics Opinion and argumentc1, Languagec1
    Oxford Collocations DictionaryAffirmative is used with these nouns:
    • action
    • answer
    • reply
    • …
    See full entry
  2. (also positive)
     (of a statement) expressing something that is true, did happen, etc.; not containing words such as ‘no’, ‘not’, ‘never’, etc.
    • affirmative and negative forms/sentences
    opposite negative (2)Topics Languagec1
    3. Word Originlate Middle English (in the sense ‘assertive, positive’): via Old French from late Latin affirmativus, from affirmare ‘assert’, from ad- ‘to’ + firmus ‘strong’.
See affirmative in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee affirmative in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: affirmative

Nearby words

hat-trick
noun
 
 
From the Topic
Sports
C2
Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Word of the Day