affirmative1 adjectiveaffirmative2 noun
affirmativeaf‧fir‧ma‧tive1 /əˈfɜːmətɪv $ -ɜːr-/ adjective formal 
ExamplesEXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
Collocations- Above all, affirmative action assuages white guilt.
- As in the United States, affirmative action has been challenged in the courts.
- He also agreed to adopt policies on affirmative action and ethics.
- Hearings to consider a Proposed constitutional amendment outlawing affirmative action were scheduled.
- Indeed, equal opportunity policies, and strategies of affirmative action, can be built into selective assessments.
- The others deal with affirmative action and access to information.
- Until now, however, the court has not reconsidered the workplace rules on affirmative action.
- While trainers try to distinguish between the two, skeptics often view diversity as just warmed-over affirmative action.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN► action
an affirmative answer or action means ‘yes’ or shows agreement OPP negative: · Poor blacks dislike the Republican attack on welfare; rich blacks resent the Republican criticism of affirmative action.· Recent Supreme Court decisions have put limits on the use of affirmative action to assure diversity in student bodies.· The others deal with affirmative action and access to information.· Wilson has been under fire from many minority groups because of his campaign against affirmative action programs.· But religious right leaders had adamantly opposed him because of his views on abortion and affirmative action.· The affirmative action principle could be applied to virtually all economic or social goods.· But affirmative action is clearly going to be a more constrained remedy in future years than in past decades.· Pete Wilson took in his unsuccessful presidential campaign in which he repeatedly highlighted affirmative action as a cutting-edge issue.
► answer· Both questions have to receive affirmative answers, and they are not mutually exclusive.· Allowing the appeal automatically indicates an affirmative answer to the third certified question.· The voter knows that an affirmative answer would be considered more respectable than the truth.· The doctrine of the internality of relations gives an affirmative answer to both these questions.· If an affirmative answer can be given to all, this is your case.
an affirmative nod—affirmatively adverbaffirmative1 adjectiveaffirmative2 noun
affirmativeaffirmative2 noun ExamplesEXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
Thesaurus- If the affirmative was the case in all three, don't feel ashamed.
- The Court answers this question in the affirmative.
- The question posed at the end of the first paragraph can be answered with a strong affirmative.
Longman Language Activatorwhen someone asks you a question► yes
Phrases spoken · "Have you lived here long?" "Yes, about 10 years."· "Did you watch 'Trial and Retribution' last night?" "Yes, wasn't it good?"· If you're asking me whether I think we should do it, the answer is yes.yes, please (=say this to politely accept something that someone offers you) · "Would you like some wine?" "Yes, please."
► yeah spoken informal · "Are you ready, Chrissie?" "Yeah, yeah, I'm just coming."· "Was it £2000 that your car cost?" "Yeah, that's right."· "Do you think you may have to retire from athletics soon?'' "Well, yeah, I suppose so.''
► sure spoken informal especially American · "Do you have the time, please?'' "Sure, it's three o'clock.''· "We're going to the beach this afternoon - want to come?'' "Sure, that 'd be great.''
► definitely spoken say this when you want to agree strongly with something, or to make it clear that you are definitely going to do something: · "I think Mark would make a good team captain, don't you?" "Definitely!"· "Are you going to Sonya's party?" "Definitely! It should be really fun."
► of course spoken say this when you are surprised or annoyed that someone has asked you something, or to make your answer strong: · "Do you know when my birthday is?'' "Of course, it's next Wednesday.''of course I am/she is/you can etc: · "Are you feeling nervous?" "Of course I am, it's a very important speech."
► I'm afraid so spoken say this when you think the person asking the question is hoping for a different answer: · "You're not going out, are you?'' "I'm afraid so. But I won't be long."· "School doesn't start again next week, does it?" "Yes, I'm afraid so, Charlie."
► answer/reply in the affirmative formal written to say yes - use this when someone says yes in a formal or public situation, for example in a law court: · When asked if he recognized the defendant, the witness replied in the affirmative.· Are men more mechanical than women? 67% of all men responding to our poll answered in the affirmative.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► answer/reply in the affirmative
answer/reply in the affirmative formal to say ‘yes’ → answer/reply in the negative at negative2(2)- Are men more mechanical than women? 67% of all men responding to our poll answered in the affirmative.
- When asked if he recognized the defendant, the witness replied in the affirmative.
- No doubt Harry's family would also have replied in the affirmative, indicating that they really did not know what happiness was.
- That question was answered in the affirmative.
- We can answer in the affirmative provided the weights are all positive.