Affirmative

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /əˈfɜːmÉ™tɪv/
• US IPA: /əˈfɝmÉ™tɪv/

Origin

From Old French affirmatif, from Latin affirmativus, from affirmare ("to assert").

Full definition of affirmative

Adjective

1. pertaining to truth; asserting that something is; affirmingan affirmative answer
2. pertaining to any assertion or active confirmation that favors a particular result
3. positivean affirmative vote
4. Confirmative; ratifying.an act affirmative of common law
5. dogmatic
• BerkeleyLysicles was a little disconcerted by the affirmative air of Crito.
6. (logic) Expressing the agreement of the two terms of a proposition.
7. (algebra) positive; not negative

Derived terms

• affirmative action

Noun

1. 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.
2. grammatical terminology An answer that shows agreement or acceptance.
3. (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.