An affirmative word or gesture indicates that you agree with what someone has said or that the answer to a question is 'yes'.
[formal]
Haig was desperately eager for an affirmative answer.
Dr Sinclair's affirmative nod seemed a shade reluctant.
Synonyms: agreeing, confirming, positive, approving More Synonyms of affirmative
affirmativelyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
'Is that clear?' Bob nodded his head affirmatively.
2.
See in the affirmative
3. adjective
In grammar, an affirmative clause is positive and does not contain a negative word.
affirmative in British English
(əˈfɜːmətɪv)
adjective
1.
confirming or asserting something as true or valid
an affirmative statement
2.
indicating agreement or assent
an affirmative answer
3. logic
a.
(of a categorial proposition) affirming the satisfaction by the subject of the predicate, as in all birds have feathers; some men are married
b.
not containing negation
Compare negative (sense 12)
noun
4.
a positive assertion
5.
a word or phrase stating agreement or assent, such as yes (esp in the phrase answer in the affirmative)
6. logic
an affirmative proposition
7. the affirmative
sentence substitute
8. military
a signal codeword used to express assent or confirmation
Derived forms
affirmatively (afˈfirmatively)
adverb
affirmative in American English
(əˈfɜrmətɪv)
adjective
1.
saying that something stated is true; answering “yes”
an affirmative reply
2.
a.
bold or confident in asserting
affirmative people
b.
optimistic or hopeful; not negative or cynical
3. Logic
affirming something about a subject
“all men are mortal” is an affirmative proposition
adverb, interjection
4.
yes
so used in radio communication
noun
5.
a word or expression indicating assent or agreement (Ex.: yes, aye)
6.
an affirmative statement
7.
the point of view that upholds the proposition being debated
Idioms:
in the affirmative
Derived forms
affirmatively (afˈfirmatively)
adverb
Word origin
ME affirmatif < L affirmativus < affirmare, affirm
Examples of 'affirmative' in a sentence
affirmative
This does not mean that all voluntary affirmative action programs will be upheld by the courts.
Tompkins, Jonathan Human Resource Management in Government (1995)
Thus the first question would be answered in the affirmative.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It only needs one affirmative reply and you are on your way.
Mansfield, Patricia Why Am I Afraid to be Assertive? (1994)
The affirmative action approach directly attacks the phenomenon of job segregation.
Tompkins, Jonathan Human Resource Management in Government (1995)
The second preliminary issue should be answered in the affirmative.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He was given a strong affirmative in reply.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
She hoped he would have answered in the affirmative.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
On the face of it that question had to be answered in the affirmative.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It is difficult to answer in the affirmative.
Tomlinson, Richard Urbanization in Post-Apartheid South Africa (1990)
An affirmative answer to this question is hardly possible.
Bramwell, Anna C Refugees in the Age of Total War (1988)
An affirmative answer favours a physical cause.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
An affirmative answer could not be excluded.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
This affirmative defense has two elements.
Christianity Today (2000)
An affirmative answer often seems unavoidable.
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
We need positive discrimination, affirmative action.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Second, affirmative action plans must be flexible in nature.
Tompkins, Jonathan Human Resource Management in Government (1995)
You'll probably be astonished when the answer is affirmative.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
She fancied she heard answers in the affirmative, and then again she wasn’t sure.
J.M. Barrie Peter Pan (1911)
A final component is the affirmative action plan itself.
Tompkins, Jonathan Human Resource Management in Government (1995)
Positive, affirmative action is needed.
Peter F. Drucker MANAGEMENT: task, responsibilities, practices (1974)
In the US "affirmative action " purchasing has been a continuing feature of government buying.
Tom Cannon Basic Marketing. Principles and Practice (1986)
Positive or affirmative action may well improve the statistics, but it will undermine confidence in the individual men and women who are to do the job.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
In other languages
affirmative
British English: affirmative ADJECTIVE
An affirmative word or gesture indicates that you agree with what someone has said or that the answer to a question is 'yes'.
He was desperately eager for an affirmative answer.
American English: affirmative
Brazilian Portuguese: afirmativo
Chinese: 肯定的 >言辞、手势
European Spanish: afirmativo
French: affirmatif
German: bejahend
Italian: affermativo
Japanese: 肯定的な
Korean: 긍정적인
European Portuguese: afirmativo
Latin American Spanish: afirmativo
(adjective)
Definition
indicating agreement
He was eager for an affirmative answer.
Synonyms
agreeing
confirming
positive
There has been a positive response to the peace efforts.
approving
consenting
favourable
I am expecting a favourable reply.
concurring
assenting
corroborative
Opposites
denying
,
negative
,
disagreeing
,
dissenting
,
disapproving
,
negating
Additional synonyms
in the sense of favourable
Definition
giving consent or approval
I am expecting a favourable reply.
Synonyms
affirmative,
agreeing,
confirming,
positive,
assenting,
corroborative
in the sense of positive
There has been a positive response to the peace efforts.