# afford

> English word · Verb · IPA /əˈfoɹd/ · frequency rank #2,609

## Definitions
1. To incur, stand, or bear without serious detriment, as an act which might under other circumstances be injurious; (usually after an expression of ability, as could, able, difficult) to be able or rich enough; to spare.
2. To offer, provide, or supply, as in selling, granting or expending, with profit, or without too great a loss.
3. To give forth; to supply, yield, or produce as the natural result, fruit, or issue.
4. To give, grant, or confer, with a remoter reference to its being the natural result; to provide; to furnish.

## Etymology
From Middle English afforthen, aforthen, avorthien, from earlier iforthen, iforthien, ȝeforthien, from Old English forþian, ġeforþian (“to further, accomplish, afford”), from Proto-Germanic *furþōną, from Proto-Germanic *furþą (“forth, forward”), equivalent to a- + forth. Cognate with Old Norse forða (“to forward oneself, save oneself, escape danger”), Icelandic forða (“to save, rescue”).

## Easily confused with
- **Alford** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/afford-vs-alford)
- **affords** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/afford-vs-affords)
- **Ashford** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/afford-vs-ashford)
- **afforded** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/afford-vs-afforded)
- **accord** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/accord-vs-afford)
- **affirm** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/affirm-vs-afford)

## Common misspellings (7)
`affodr`, `affordd`, `afforrd`, `affrod`, `afofrd`, `aford`, `faford`

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