# affirm

> English word · Verb · IPA /əˈfɝm/ · frequency rank #22,277

## Definitions
1. To agree, verify or concur; to answer positively.
2. To assert positively; to tell with confidence; to aver; to maintain as true.
3. To support or encourage.
4. To make firm; to confirm, or ratify; especially (law) to assert or confirm, as a judgment, decree, or order, brought before an appellate court for review.
5. To state under a solemn promise to tell the truth which is considered legally equivalent to an oath, especially of those who have religious or other moral objections to swearing oaths; also solemnly affirm.

## Etymology
From Middle English affermen, from Old French afermer, affermer, from Latin affirmare, adfirmare (“to present as fixed, aver, affirm”), from ad (“to”) + firmare (“to make firm”), from firmus (“firm”).

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

## Common misspellings (7)
`affimr`, `affirmm`, `affirrm`, `affrim`, `afifrm`, `afirm`, `fafirm`

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