affection
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for affection, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A feeling of fondness, warmth, or love toward someone.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use affection
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French affection, from Latin affectio, related to the verb affect — originally meaning any state or change brought on by an emotion.
Full origin of affection →Frequently asked questions
What does “affection” mean?
The word “affection” means a feeling of fondness, warmth, or love toward someone. In plain terms, warm, caring feelings toward someone — softer and less intense than romantic love, though it can include it.
How do you pronounce “affection”?
“Affection” is pronounced uh-FEHK-shuhn (/əˈfɛk.ʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “affection” in a sentence?
Here is “affection” used in a sentence: “He showed real affection for his younger siblings.”
What part of speech is “affection”?
“Affection” is a noun.
Where does the word “affection” come from?
The word “affection” comes from Latin. From Old French affection, from Latin affectio, related to the verb affect — originally meaning any state or change brought on by an emotion.
Is “affection” a common word?
“Affection” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between 'affection' and 'love'?
Affection is a feeling of fondness, warmth, and caring toward someone. It is generally gentler and less intense than love, which is a deeper and stronger emotional bond; you can feel affection for a friend or a pet without describing it as love.
What is the difference between 'affection' and 'fondness'?
The two are very close in meaning, and both express a warm liking for someone. 'Affection' often suggests a slightly warmer, more tender emotion that may be shown openly, while 'fondness' emphasises simply liking someone or something.
What is the difference between 'affection' and 'attraction'?
Affection is a warm, caring fondness for someone. Attraction is the feeling of being drawn to a person, often physically or romantically, so you can feel affection without attraction, as with family members or close friends.
What preposition is used with 'affection'?
'Affection' is usually followed by 'for', as in 'she has great affection for her grandparents'. You may also see 'affection toward' or 'affection towards' someone with a similar meaning.