af|fec|ta|tion /æ fekte I ʃ ə n/ (affectations ) N‑VAR If you say that someone's attitude or behaviour is an affectation , you disapprove of the fact that it is not genuine or natural, but is intended to impress other people. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ I wore sunglasses all the time and people thought it was an affectation.
af|fect|ed /əfe kt I d/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe someone's behaviour as affected , you disapprove of the fact that they behave in an unnatural way that is intended to impress other people. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ She had an affected air and a disdainful look.
af|fect|ing /əfe kt I ŋ/ ADJ If you describe something such as a story or a piece of music as affecting , you think it is good because it makes you feel a strong emotion, especially sadness or pity. [LITERARY , APPROVAL ] □ …an affecting drama about a woman with a terminal illness.
af|fec|tion /əfe kʃ ə n/ (affections )
1 N‑UNCOUNT If you regard someone or something with affection , you like them and are fond of them. □ She thought of him with affection. □ [+ for ] She had developed quite an affection for the place.
2 N‑PLURAL [with poss] Your affections are your feelings of love or fondness for someone. □ The distant object of his affections is Caroline.
af|fec|tion|ate /əfe kʃənət/ ADJ If you are affectionate , you show your love or fondness for another person in the way that you behave towards them. □ They seemed devoted to each other and were openly affectionate. ● af|fec|tion|ate|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ He looked affectionately at his niece.
af|fi|da|vit /æ f I de I v I t/ (affidavits ) N‑COUNT An affidavit is a written statement which you swear is true and which may be used as evidence in a court of law. [LEGAL ]
af|fili|ate (affiliates , affiliating , affiliated ) The noun is pronounced /əf I liət/. The verb is pronounced /əf I lie I t/. 1 N‑COUNT [oft with poss] An affiliate is an organization which is officially connected with another, larger organization or is a member of it. [FORMAL ] □ The World Chess Federation has affiliates in around 120 countries.
2 VERB If an organization affiliates to or with another larger organization, it forms a close connection with the larger organization or becomes a member of it. [FORMAL ] □ [V + to/with ] All youth groups will have to affiliate to the National Youth Agency. [Also V ]
af|fili|at|ed /əf I lie I t I d/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] If an organization is affiliated with another larger organization, it is officially connected with the larger organization or is a member of it. [FORMAL ] □ [+ to/with ] There are 73 unions affiliated to the Trades Union Congress.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] If a professional person, such as a lawyer or doctor, is affiliated with an organization, they are officially connected with that organization or do some official work for it. [FORMAL ] □ [+ with/to ] He will remain affiliated with the firm as a special associate director. □ …our affiliated members.
af|filia|tion /əf I lie I ʃ ə n/ (affiliations )
1 N‑VAR If one group has an affiliation with another group, it has a close or official connection with it. [FORMAL ] □ [+ with/to ] The group has no affiliation to any political party.
2 N‑VAR If you have an affiliation with a group or another person, you have a close or official connection with them. [FORMAL ] □ [+ with/to ] …Johnson's affiliation with shoe company Nike. □ They asked what her political affiliations were.
af|fin|ity /əf I n I ti/ (affinities ) N‑SING If you have an affinity with someone or something, you feel that you are similar to them or that you know and understand them very well. □ [+ with ] He has a close affinity with the landscape he knew when he was growing up.
af|fi n|ity card (affinity cards ) N‑COUNT An affinity card is a type of credit card. The bank which issues the card gives a small amount of money to a charity or institution each time the customer spends a certain amount with their card.
af|firm /əfɜː r m/ (affirms , affirming , affirmed )
1 VERB If you affirm that something is true or that something exists, you state firmly and publicly that it is true or exists. [FORMAL ] □ [V that] The courts have affirmed that the act can be applied to social media. □ [V n] …a speech in which he affirmed a commitment to lower taxes. □ [V with quote] 'This place is a dump,' affirmed Miss T. [Also V n to-inf] ● af|fir|ma|tion /æ fə r me I ʃ ə n/ (affirmations ) N‑VAR □ [+ of ] The ministers issued an affirmation of their faith in the system.
2 VERB If an event affirms something, it shows that it is true or exists. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] Everything I had accomplished seemed to affirm that opinion. ● af|fir|ma|tion N‑UNCOUNT [oft a N ] □ [+ of ] The high turnout was an affirmation of the importance that the voters attached to the election.
af|firma|tive /əfɜː r mət I v/
1 ADJ 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. ● af|firma|tive|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ 'Is that clear?' Bob nodded his head affirmatively.
2 PHRASE If you reply to a question in the affirmative , you say 'yes' or make a gesture that means 'yes'. [FORMAL ] □ He asked me if I was ready. I answered in the affirmative.
3 ADJ In grammar, an affirmative clause is positive and does not contain a negative word.
af|fi rma|tive a c|tion N‑UNCOUNT Affirmative action is the policy of giving jobs and other opportunities to members of groups such as racial minorities or women who might not otherwise have them. [AM ] in BRIT, use positive discrimination