1
2
: a procedure, action, or occasion only vaguely specified
also
: an object or collection of objects only vaguely specified
Their house was a 2-story affair.
3
or less commonly affaire
a
: a romantic or passionate attachment typically of limited duration : liaison sense 2b
had an affair with a coworker
b
: a matter occasioning public anxiety, controversy, or scandal : case
the Watergate affair of the early 1970s
Examples of affair in a Sentence
After the war, the government focused on its own domestic affairs.
They accused the U.S. of interfering in the internal affairs of other nations.
How I choose to live is my affair, not yours.
adulterous affairs between married men and single women
Recent Examples on the Web
Officials said the Police Department will conduct two investigations into the shooting: the special investigations unit and Travis County district attorney's office will handle the criminal inquiry, and the internal affairs unit and office of police oversight will examine police conduct.
—
Bianca Moreno-Paz, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
Holiday Dress Codes For many, cozy and casual is the new normal for holiday affairs.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 21 Nov. 2024
The Louisville Metro Police officer who fired pepper balls at a WAVE-TV news crew that was live on air during a Breonna Taylor protest in 2020 will not be suspended or terminated for his actions, according to an internal affairs findings letter released by LMPD on Thursday.
—Josh Wood, The Courier-Journal, 21 Nov. 2024
Chicago's Board of Education passed a resolution reaffirming its commitment to protecting immigrant students of varying legal status, while New York City's immigrant affairs commissioner vowed the city will uphold its sanctuary laws protecting immigrants.
—Lauren Villagran, USA TODAY, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for affair 
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Bianca Moreno-Paz, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
Holiday Dress Codes For many, cozy and casual is the new normal for holiday affairs.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 21 Nov. 2024
The Louisville Metro Police officer who fired pepper balls at a WAVE-TV news crew that was live on air during a Breonna Taylor protest in 2020 will not be suspended or terminated for his actions, according to an internal affairs findings letter released by LMPD on Thursday.
—Josh Wood, The Courier-Journal, 21 Nov. 2024
Chicago's Board of Education passed a resolution reaffirming its commitment to protecting immigrant students of varying legal status, while New York City's immigrant affairs commissioner vowed the city will uphold its sanctuary laws protecting immigrants.
—Lauren Villagran, USA TODAY, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for affair
Articles Related to affair
Dictionary Entries Near affair
Cite this Entry
“Affair.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/affair. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
affair
noun
af·fair
ə-ˈfa(ə)r 
-ˈfe(ə)r
1
a
plural
: commercial, professional, public, or personal business
government affairs
arranged my affairs before leaving
b
: concern entry 2 sense 1, matter
not your affair at all
2
a
: event sense 1b, activity
a social affair
b
: product sense 2, thing
the house was a two-story affair
3
: a brief romantic relationship
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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