affirm

[ uh-furm ]
See synonyms for affirm on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object)
  1. to state or assert positively; maintain as true: to affirm one's loyalty to one's country; He affirmed that all was well.

  2. to confirm or ratify: The appellate court affirmed the judgment of the lower court.

  1. to assert solemnly: He affirmed his innocence.

  2. to express agreement with or commitment to; uphold; support: to affirm human rights.

  3. to support (someone) by giving approval, recognition, or encouragement: She described the unhappy memory of her father, who had neither disciplined nor affirmed her.

verb (used without object)
  1. Law.

    • to state something solemnly before a court or magistrate, but without oath.

    • to ratify and accept a voidable transaction.

    • (of an appellate court) to determine that the action of the lower court shall stand.

Origin of affirm

1
First recorded in 1300–50; from Latin affirmāre, equivalent to af- af- + firmāre “to make firm” (see firm1); replacing Middle English a(f)fermen, from Middle French afermer, from Latin

synonym study For affirm

1. See declare.

Other words for affirm

Opposites for affirm

Other words from affirm

  • af·firm·a·ble, adjective
  • af·firm·a·bly, adverb
  • af·firm·er, noun
  • af·firm·ing·ly, adverb
  • o·ver·af·firm, verb
  • pre·af·firm, verb
  • re·af·firm, verb (used with object)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for affirm

affirm

/ (əˈfɜːm) /


verb(mainly tr)
  1. (may take a clause as object) to declare to be true; assert positively

  2. to uphold, confirm, or ratify

  1. (intr) law to make an affirmation

Origin of affirm

1
C14: via Old French from Latin affirmāre to present (something) as firm or fixed, assert, from ad- to + firmāre to make firm 1

Derived forms of affirm

  • affirmer or affirmant, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012