affection
uh-FEHK-shuhn
Affection (noun) means a feeling of fondness, warmth, or love toward someone. Example: “Grandma always shows her affection by baking us a cake.”
noun
1
A feeling of fondness, warmth, or love toward someone.
"Grandma always shows her affection by baking us a cake."
"The marriage therapist suggested they show each other more affection."
"I have a lot of affection for my little sister."
"He showed real affection for his younger siblings."
"Their affection for each other was obvious to everyone at the reunion."
How to use affection
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWarm, caring feelings toward someone — softer and less intense than romantic love, though it can include it.
Common pairings
show affection
affection for someone
a warm affection
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Word forms
- Plural
- affections
- Third person singular
- affections
- Past tense
- affectioned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Grandma always shows her _____ by baking us a cake.
Etymology
From Old French affection, from Latin affectio, related to the verb affect — originally meaning any state or change brought on by an emotion.
Synonyms
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fondness
warmth
tenderness
attachment
devotion
care
warmness
warmheartedness
affectionateness
heart
philia
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for affection
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for 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.
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