affirmative Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a reply of affirmation
    • he answered in the affirmative
  2. adjective affirming or giving assent
    affirmatory.
    • an affirmative decision
    • affirmative votes
  3. adjective satellite expecting the best
    optimistic.
    • an affirmative outlook
  4. adjective satellite expressing or manifesting praise or approval
    plausive; approbative; approbatory; approving.
    • approbative criticism
    • an affirmative nod

WordNet

Af*firm"a*tive adjective
Etymology
L. affirmativus: cf. F. affirmatif.
Definitions
  1. Confirmative; ratifying; as, an act affirmative of common law.
  2. That affirms; asserting that the fact is so; declaratory of what exists; answering "yes" to a question; -- opposed to negative; as, an affirmative answer; an affirmative vote.
  3. Positive; dogmatic. Obs. J. Taylor.
    Lysicles was a little by the affirmative air of Crito. Berkeley.
  4. (logic) Expressing the agreement of the two terms of a proposition.
  5. (Alg.) Positive; -- a term applied to quantities which are to be added, and opposed to negative, or such as are to be subtracted.
Af*firm"a*tive noun
Definitions
  1. That which affirms as opposed to that which denies; an affirmative proposition; that side of question which affirms or maintains the proposition stated; -- opposed to negative; as, there were forty votes in the affirmative, and ten in the negative.
    Whether there are such beings or not, 't is sufficient for my purpose that many have believed the affirmative. Dryden.
  2. A word or phrase expressing affirmation or assent; as, yes, that is so, etc.

Webster 1913