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

By Jenna Ryu April 2, 2025 Collage: Self; Source Images: Smash Kitchen, Mat Hayward/Getty Images Forget words of affirmation. —Jenna Ryu, SELF, 2 Apr. 2025

There’s also the apartment’s construction, to something of an affirmation of the value of art to individuals and communities. —Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 23 Mar. 2025

This gratitude journal from Barnes & Noble has specific sections for positive affirmations, your daily goals, the good things that happened to you and mood tracking. —Christopher Murray, Fox News, 8 Mar. 2025

Esparza The affirmation of others regarding my success was a key indicator. —Catharine Malzahn, Glamour, 28 Mar. 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