What does affirmation mean?
Word: Affirmation
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Affirmation means a firm statement that something is true, or words or actions that show support and agreement.
Synonyms: endorsement, support
Antonyms: rejection, negation
How do you spell affirmation?
Syllables: af - fir - ma - tion
Tricky part: Double f at the start, and the vowel in fir is an i, though it sounds like the er in her. Students write afirmation or affermation.
Watch out for: afirmation, affermation, affirmasion
Memory tip: Firm hides inside: an affirmation is a firm yes. Put af in front of firm and you have the double f.
Affirmation in a sentence
Example 1: The crowd's cheer was a clear affirmation of the captain's decision.
Example 2: Before the match, the captain repeated a short affirmation to calm her nerves.
Example 3: The school's award came as an affirmation of years of hard work by the team.
Fun Fact
Affirm first came into English from Old French afermer; in the 1500s writers changed the spelling to affirm to match the Latin affirmare.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word affirmation as used in the sentence:
The minister's speech was an affirmation of the government's support for small farmers.
a) assertion
b) confirmation
c) denial
d) declaration
Show answer
c) denial. A denial says something is not true; the other three all state firmly that it is.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
affirmattion
a) m
b) i
c) t
d) f
Show answer
c) t. Only one t is needed: it is affirm with -ation added, said af-fir-MAY-shun.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one of these words is spelt correctly. Choose its meaning:
1. encouragment 2. affirmation 3. gratitued 4. confidance
a) the feeling of being thankful
b) a firm statement that something is true
c) words or actions that give someone hope
d) a feeling of trust in yourself
Show answer
b) a firm statement that something is true. Gratitude ends in -tude, encouragement keeps the e and confidence ends in -ence; affirmation is spelt correctly.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
The coach's nod was all the miaatfnorif the young bowler needed.
a) firmament
b) formation
c) information
d) affirmation
Show answer
d) affirmation. Information needs two o's, formation has only one f and firmament needs an e; the letters spell affirmation.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which sentence is a self-affirmation, the kind some people write in a diary?
a) I am strong and I can learn this.
b) Please wake me up at six.
c) Did I lock the door this morning?
d) I will buy a new diary next week.
Show answer
a) I am strong and I can learn this.
2. Which reply to Is this your bag? is an affirmation?
a) No, mine is blue.
b) It looks like mine.
c) Yes, it is mine.
d) Let me check first.
Show answer
c) Yes, it is mine.
