verb
Uncommon
affirm
uh-FURM
Affirm (verb) means to state something confidently and firmly as true. Example: “He affirmed that he had never seen the document before.”
verb
1
To state something confidently and firmly as true.
"He affirmed that he had never seen the document before."
"She affirmed her commitment to the project despite the setbacks."
2
(law) To uphold or confirm a lower court’s decision on appeal.
"The appeals court affirmed the original ruling."
"The judge affirmed the sentence handed down by the lower court."
How to use affirm
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo say something is definitely true, or, in law, to formally uphold a previous decision.
Common pairings
affirm a decision
affirm one’s belief
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- affirms
- Past tense
- affirmed
- Archaic forms
- affirmest, affirmedst, affirmeth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He _____ that he had never seen the document before.
Etymology
From Old French afermer, from Latin affirmare, "to make firm" — built from ad- plus firmus, "firm."
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “affirm” mean?
The word “affirm” means to state something confidently and firmly as true. In plain terms, to say something is definitely true, or, in law, to formally uphold a previous decision.
How do you pronounce “affirm”?
“Affirm” is pronounced uh-FURM (/əˈfɝm/ in IPA).
How do you use “affirm” in a sentence?
Here is “affirm” used in a sentence: “He affirmed that he had never seen the document before.”
What is another word for “affirm”?
Words with a similar meaning to “affirm” include validate.
What is the opposite of “affirm”?
The opposite of “affirm” — its antonyms — are disaffirm, deny, repudiate and invalidate.
What part of speech is “affirm”?
“Affirm” is a verb.
Where does the word “affirm” come from?
The word “affirm” comes from Latin. From Old French afermer, from Latin affirmare, "to make firm" — built from ad- plus firmus, "firm.".
Is “affirm” a common word?
“Affirm” is an uncommon word in modern English.
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