rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryaffirmativeAgreement or confirmation
adjective / noun / interjection

affirmative

uh-FER-muh-tiv/əˈfɜːrmətɪv/

Expressing agreement or confirmation.

The nod and raised thumb give an affirmative answer.

A person clearly nods and gives a confident thumbs-up in agreement to an offered plan, no text.
Etymology
afLatinto; emphatic
+firmLatinmake firm, strengthen
+ativeLatinexpressing an action or tendency

The underlying idea of making firm became confirming or asserting something. In logic, an affirmative answer asserted that something was so—the basis of its meaning ‘yes’ or agreement.

In context

Carnegie Explains87:52
even opening an investigation requires the affirmative votes of four commissioners.
Financing India's Elections

More examples

  • The reply was an emphatic affirmative.
  • Affirmative, the pilot answered.
  • They voted in the affirmative.

Forms

affirmative · affirmatives

affirm verb — state or confirm as true

Similar words

positive
Expressing agreement or acceptance.
yes
The ordinary direct answer.