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affirmative

affirmative

324 4.1
Showing agreement or approval, like saying yes
  • adjective
  • /əˈfɜːrmətɪv/
translation icon : afirmativo
  • Her answer was affirmative, indicating that she agreed with the proposal.
  • an affirmative response
  • an affirmative answer

You know, every affirmative answer she gave there was flippant.

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Examples

  • You know, every affirmative answer she gave there was flippant.

  • - So I'm the relief? - Affirmative.

  • - Uh, that's affirmative, sir.

  • A large proportion of students benefiting from affirmative action benefit from financial aid.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Nonetheless, as the tension is resolved, affirmative action is further compromised.

    Academic text (2011)
  • You changed the coordinates, didn't you, General? - That's affirmative, Captain.

  • Such a proviso would seem to allow for the implementation of affirmative action plans to remedy past discrimination.

    Academic text (1990)
  • Consider the foot-race analogy made by President Lyndon Johnson when he argued for affirmative action and compensatory education.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The commander responded with an affirmative nod, confirming the orders.

  • When asked if he would attend the meeting, he replied, "That's affirmative.

Synonyms

positive
vsaffirmative
695 2.8

Having a confident or approving attitude

specifically signals an explicit yes rather than general confidence
favorable
vsaffirmative
  • US
62 2.8

Showing approval or support, like a good review

is about saying yes rather than indicating advantage or outcome
affirmatory
vsaffirmative
1 7.4

Expressing approval or agreement

is the more common modern form with the same agreement meaning
approving
vsaffirmative
1.3

Showing that you like and accept someone or something

focuses on giving an explicit yes response rather than general praise
approbatory
vsaffirmative
  • Formal
8.9

Showing approval or praise for something

is used for a direct positive response rather than formal commendation
approbative
vsaffirmative
  • Formal
8.8

Showing praise or approval

places emphasis on saying yes rather than offering ceremonial praise

Antonyms

135 2.3

Saying no or showing that something is not true

Compounds

222 4.7

A plan to help groups treated unfairly get more chances in education or work

A defendant's statement giving new facts to defeat the plaintiff's claim

How Positive

enthusiastic
175 2.7
affirmative
324 4.1
to agree
1.0
neutral
218 3.6
opposed
1 3.5

Surface Forms

affirmative positive

Morphology

affirmative = affirm (semi-transparent) = affirm + ative

The connection to 'affirm' is recognizable, but the adjective's specific sense of 'indicating yes' is a somewhat specialized extension rather than a fully predictable one.

Etymology

Affirmative comes from the verb affirm, which originally meant 'to make firm' and is related to firm. So an affirmative answer is a firm 'yes' or clear approval.