affirmation

noun

af·​fir·​ma·​tion ˌa-fər-ˈmā-shən 

1

a

: the act of affirming

nodded his head in affirmation

b

: something affirmed : a positive assertion

His memoir is a reflective affirmation of family love.

2

law : a solemn declaration made under the penalties of perjury by a person who conscientiously declines taking an oath

Synonyms

• assertion
• asseveration
• avouchment
• avowal
• claim
• declaration
• insistence
• profession
• protestation

Examples of affirmation in a Sentence

a sworn affirmation that he had never acted as a spy for the enemy

Recent Examples on the Web

That’s a sign that words of affirmation may matter more to them. —Mark Travers, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025

For everyone who saw them as the ultimate affirmation of life itself, someone else saw our treatment of them as reason to despair. —Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025

The pub is first and foremost a refuge from women, occasionally a place to display them, more often a scene of affirmation in the business of subduing them. —Rachel Cusk, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025

His affirmations eventually came to fruition, as all three of his boys made it to the NBA and are living out their basketball dreams. —Regina Cho, VIBE.com, 19 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English affirmacioun, borrowed from Anglo-French affirmation, affermacion, borrowed from Latin affirmātiōn-, affirmātiō, from affirmāre "to affirm" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing affirmation

• gender affirmation surgery
• self-affirmation

Rhymes for affirmation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation