affirmative

Expressing agreement, acceptance, or that something is true.

• She gave an affirmative answer.
• His affirmative nod meant we could begin.
• We received an affirmative response to our request.

Similar words: positive, approving

Opposites: negative

Common phrases: affirmative answer, affirmative response, affirmative statement, affirmative vote

Confirming or officially approving an existing law, right, or decision.

• The judge called the statute affirmative of existing law.
• The new act is affirmative of earlier legal protections.
• Lawyers described the measure as affirmative of established rights.

How to use it: affirmative of something (The statute is affirmative of existing rights.)

Similar words: confirmatory, ratifying

Common phrases: affirmative of something, affirmative statute, affirmative act

An answer that means yes or shows agreement.

• His answer was an affirmative.
• She responded in the affirmative when asked about the trip.
• The committee gave an emphatic affirmative.

How to use it: answer/reply/respond in the affirmative (She replied in the affirmative.)

Similar words: yes, positive answer

Opposites: negative, no

Common phrases: in the affirmative, an emphatic affirmative, a clear affirmative