affirmative
UK: əˈfɜːmətɪv | US: əˈfɜːrmətɪv
adj. expressing agreement or consent
n. a statement or word indicating agreement (e.g., "yes")
n. (logic) a proposition asserting the truth of a statement
The word "affirmative" traces back to Latin affirmare ("to make firm, declare"), combining ad- (to) + firmus (strong). The prefix af- (from ad-) implies direction or addition, while firm retains its core meaning of strength or stability. The suffix -ative turns the verb into an adjective, giving "affirmative" its modern sense of asserting or confirming something firmly. Over time, it evolved from physical firmness to conceptual certainty, especially in legal and logical contexts.
She gave an affirmative nod when asked if she understood.
The committee’s decision was unanimously affirmative.
In debate, an affirmative argument supports the resolution.
The teacher waited for an affirmative response before continuing.
His tone was affirmative, leaving no room for doubt.