adj
Common
affected
uh-FEHK-tihd
Affected (adj) means Changed or influenced by something, often negatively. Example: “The region’s crops were badly affected by the drought.”
adj
1
Changed or influenced by something, often negatively.
"The region’s crops were badly affected by the drought."
"His speech was noticeably affected by the injury to his jaw."
"Several homes affected by the flood still have no electricity."
2
Put on or fake, done for effect rather than being genuine.
"She spoke in an affected accent she thought sounded posh."
"His affected concern didn’t fool anyone."
"Her affected laugh made the whole table feel uncomfortable."
3
Emotionally moved or touched by something.
"He seemed genuinely affected by the tribute to his old friend."
"The audience was visibly affected by the survivor's quiet, honest story."
"I was deeply affected by the letter she left behind."
How to use affected
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither "changed by something" (neutral or negative), "fake/put-on" (about behaviour), or "emotionally moved."
Common mistake
Don’t confuse with "effected," which means "brought about" or "caused to happen."
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- affecteds
- Comparative
- more affected
- Superlative
- most affected
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The region’s crops were badly _____ by the drought.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for affected
erected
elected
expected
dejected
directed
detected
selected
effected
infected
projected
deflected
collected
See all rhymes for affected →
Frequently asked questions
What does “affected” mean?
The word “affected” means changed or influenced by something, often negatively. In plain terms, either "changed by something" (neutral or negative), "fake/put-on" (about behaviour), or "emotionally moved.".
How do you pronounce “affected”?
“Affected” is pronounced uh-FEHK-tihd (/əˈfɛktɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “affected” in a sentence?
Here is “affected” used in a sentence: “The region’s crops were badly affected by the drought.”
What part of speech is “affected”?
“Affected” is an adjective.
Is “affected” a common word?
“Affected” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “affected” have?
“Affected” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: changed or influenced by something, often negatively.
What is the difference between affected and effected?
Affected means changed or influenced by something — 'areas affected by the storm.' Effected means brought about or caused to happen — 'changes effected by the new law.' The trick is that affect usually describes influencing something, while effect as a verb means to make it happen. Mixing the two up is very common.
What is the difference between affected and unaffected?
Affected means changed, touched, or influenced by something, often harmfully. Unaffected means the opposite: not changed or influenced at all, remaining exactly as before. If a power cut hits one street but not the next, the first street is affected and the second is unaffected.
What is an example of being affected by something?
A town affected by flooding has suffered damage from it; a person affected by bad news feels its emotional weight. In each case, something outside has produced a change — often a negative one — in the person, place, or thing that is described as affected.
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