Antonyms for affirmative


Grammar : Adj
Spell : uh-fur-muh-tiv
Phonetic Transcription : əˈfɜr mə tɪv


Definition of affirmative

Origin :
  • "answering 'yes,'" mid-15c., from use in logic; from Middle French affirmatif (13c.), from Latin affirmativus, from affirmat-, past participle stem of affirmare (see affirm). As a noun from early 15c. Affirmative action "positive or corrective effort by employers to prevent discrimination in hiring or promotion" is attested from 1935 with regard to labor unions; specific racial sense is from 1961; now often used more generally in reference to hiring quotas, etc.
  • adj being agreeable or assenting
Example sentences :
  • Again, the girl made her formal response in the affirmative, then left the room.
  • Extract from : « Within the Law » by Marvin Dana
  • I cannot reply definitely in the affirmative to the question.
  • Extract from : « Camps, Quarters and Casual Places » by Archibald Forbes
  • He nodded, as she seemed to expect an answer in the affirmative.
  • Extract from : « Little Dorrit » by Charles Dickens
  • Though this history has its opinion on that point too, and decidedly in the affirmative.
  • Extract from : « Little Dorrit » by Charles Dickens
  • Being then asked if he had any inclination to eat, he answered in the affirmative.
  • Extract from : « Joseph Andrews Vol. 1 » by Henry Fielding
  • It was an affirmative experience which refused to be set aside.
  • Extract from : « The Atlantic Monthly, Vol. 10, No. 58, August, 1862 » by Various
  • "Sure," replied Bart, and the others answered in the affirmative.
  • Extract from : « Frank Roscoe's Secret » by Allen Chapman
  • The statement at line 138 would determine the affirmative character of this word.
  • Extract from : « Y Gododin » by Aneurin
  • He gave an affirmative nod for all the world to see: then whispered low.
  • Extract from : « A Nest of Spies » by Pierre Souvestre
  • On being answered in the affirmative, he asked if Mr. Dunn were in.
  • Extract from : « Cap'n Warren's Wards » by Joseph C. Lincoln

Synonyms for affirmative

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019