affirm

[ uh-furm ]
/ əˈfɜrm /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR affirm ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to state or assert positively; maintain as true: to affirm one's loyalty to one's country; He affirmed that all was well.
to confirm or ratify: The appellate court affirmed the judgment of the lower court.
to assert solemnly: He affirmed his innocence.
to express agreement with or commitment to; uphold; support: to affirm human rights.

verb (used without object)

Law.
  1. to state something solemnly before a court or magistrate, but without oath.
  2. to ratify and accept a voidable transaction.
  3. (of an appellate court) to determine that the action of the lower court shall stand.

Origin of affirm

1300–50; < Latin affirmāre, equivalent to af- af- + firmāre to make firm (see firm1); replacing Middle English a(f) fermen < Middle French afermer < Latin

synonym study for affirm

1. See declare.

OTHER WORDS FROM affirm

Words nearby affirm

affined, affinitive, affinity, affinity card, affinity group, affirm, affirmance, affirmant, affirmation, affirmative, affirmative action

VOCAB BUILDER

What does reaffirm mean?

To reaffirm something is to state or confirm it again.

It can also mean to uphold, maintain, or stand by something.

The word is sometimes used in a legal context to refer to a court upholding a ruling or a precedent. The words affirm and confirm are also used in such cases.

Example: At the press conference, the senator reaffirmed her commitment to helping small business owners.

Where does reaffirm come from?

The first records of reaffirm come from the 1600s. The word affirm is recorded earlier, in the 1300s, and comes from the Latin word affirmāre, meaning “to make firm.”

Things that are reaffirmed are often made stronger or clearer. A persuasive essay might reaffirm your belief in something. Sometimes, reaffirm means making a statement, especially a formal one. In politics, it’s common to hear politicians talk about reaffirming their commitment to a certain policy. Sometimes, reaffirm means to take action that reinforces something. You could reaffirm your love for someone by making the extra effort to make them happy. Sometimes, things are reaffirmed to make sure they’re not forgotten. Some people reaffirm their self-worth each day by saying positive things about themselves. When courts reaffirm decisions, they uphold them by agreeing with them. In all cases, reaffirming involves repeating what has been done or said before.

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What are some other forms of reaffirm?

  • reaffirmation (noun)

What are some synonyms for reaffirm?

What are some words that share a root or word element with reaffirm? 

What are some words that often get used in discussing reaffirm?

How is reaffirm used in real life?

Reaffirm is a common word that’s used in all kinds of contexts. All of them deal with repeating or restating something to emphasize it or make some other kind of impact.

 

 

Try using reaffirm!

Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of reaffirm?

A. restate
B. renounce
C. repeat
D. confirm

Words related to reaffirm

restore, repeat, extend, resume, revive, prolong, reopen, continue, restate, reestablish, exhilarate, reinvigorate, recreate, refurbish, remodel, resuscitate, refit, disclose, claim, stress

Example sentences from the Web for reaffirm

British Dictionary definitions for reaffirm (1 of 2)

reaffirm
/ (ˌriːəˈfɜːm) /

verb (tr)

to affirm (a claim, etc) again; reassert

Derived forms of reaffirm

reaffirmation, noun

British Dictionary definitions for reaffirm (2 of 2)

affirm
/ (əˈfɜːm) /

verb (mainly tr)

(may take a clause as object) to declare to be true; assert positively
to uphold, confirm, or ratify
(intr) law to make an affirmation

Derived forms of affirm

affirmer or affirmant, noun

Word Origin for affirm

C14: via Old French from Latin affirmāre to present (something) as firm or fixed, assert, from ad- to + firmāre to make firm 1