affair

[uh-fair]

noun

1. anything done or to be done; anything requiring action or effort; business; concern.

   an affair of great importance.

2. affairs, matters of commercial or public interest or concern; the transactions of public or private business or finance.

   affairs of state; Before taking such a long trip you should put all your affairs in order.

3. an event or a performance; a particular action, operation, or proceeding.

   When did this affair happen?

4. thing; matter (applied to anything made or existing, usually with a descriptive or qualifying term).

   Our new computer is an amazing affair.

5. a private or personal concern; a special function, business, or duty.

   That's none of your affair.

6. an intense amorous relationship, usually of short duration.

7. an event or happening that occasions or arouses notoriety, dispute, and often public scandal; incident.

   the Congressional bribery affair.

8. a party, social gathering, or other organized festive occasion.

   The awards ceremony is the biggest affair on the school calendar.

affair

/ əˈfɛə /

noun

1. a thing to be done or attended to; matter; business

   this affair must be cleared up

2. an event or happening

   a strange affair

3. (qualified by an adjective or descriptive phrase) something previously specified, esp a man-made object; thing

   our house is a tumbledown affair

4. a sexual relationship between two people who are not married to each other

Word History and Origins

Origin of affair¹

1250–1300; earlier affaire < French, Old French afaire for a faire to do, equivalent to a (< Latin ad to) + faire ≪ Latin facere; replacing Middle English afere < Old French

Word History and Origins

Origin of affair¹

C13: from Old French, from à faire to do

Example Sentences

The party's annual conference is an increasingly professional affair and Reform's sustained lead in the opinion polls has clearly been noted by public affairs professionals.

From BBC

It feels a little too carefully arranged to ever truly get under your skin as a modern-day affair about disillusioned hearts.

From Los Angeles Times

"It imposes an unjustified fine and requires changes that will hurt thousands of European businesses by making it harder for them to make money," said Lee-Anne Mulholland, global head of regulatory affairs at Google.

From BBC

She was there to close out the affairs of her 103-year-old mother, who had died around the time I hurt my leg.

From Los Angeles Times

And the wedding itself was a glittering affair, with Noel Coward and Douglas Fairbanks Jr adding Hollywood sparkle and Queen Elizabeth II leading a procession of the royal families of Europe.

From BBC

Related Words

• case 
• employment 
• event 
• incident 
• interest 
• proceeding 
• project 
• question 
• subject 
• task 
• thing 
• topic 
• transaction