General
affirmative
What does affirmative mean?
A radio term meaning 'yes' — an affirmative answer to a question, used instead of 'yes' to avoid mishearing over a noisy channel.
""Are you at the rally point? Affirmative.""
Origin
Standard radiotelephony term chosen for clarity over 'yes'.
Frequently asked questions
What does "affirmative" mean on the radio?
It simply means "yes" — an affirmative answer to a question, used in place of "yes" for clarity over the radio.
Why say "affirmative" instead of "yes"?
"Yes" can be easily missed or confused over a noisy channel, whereas the longer, distinct "affirmative" is much harder to mishear.
What's the opposite of "affirmative"?
"Negative" is used for "no," chosen for the same reason — it's clearer over the radio than the short word "no."
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