# affair

> English word · Noun · IPA /əˈfɛə/ · frequency rank #4,284

## Definitions
1. Something which is done or is to be done; business of any kind, commercial, professional, or public.
2. Any proceeding or action which it is wished to refer to or characterize vaguely.
3. An action or engagement not of sufficient magnitude to be called a battle.
4. A material object (vaguely designated).
5. An adulterous relationship, chiefly of a married person. (from affaire de cœur, affair of the heart).
6. An otherwise illicit romantic relationship, such as with someone who is not one's regular partner (boyfriend, girlfriend).
7. A person with whom someone has an adulterous relationship.
8. A party or social gathering, especially of a formal nature.
9. The (male or female) genitals.

## Etymology
From Middle English afere, affere, from Old French afaire, from a- + faire (“to do”), from Latin ad- + facere (“to do”). See fact, and compare ado.

## Easily confused with
- **affix** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/affair-vs-affix)
- **afraid** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/affair-vs-afraid)
- **affirm** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/affair-vs-affirm)
- **affairs** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/affair-vs-affairs)
- **Afar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/afar-vs-affair)

## Common misspellings (6)
`afafir`, `afair`, `affairr`, `affari`, `affiar`, `fafair`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/affair