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affair

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noun American English pronunciation: affair /əˈfer/ 
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singularaffair
pluralaffairs

Related dictionary definitions

 
  1. 1

    affairs

     [plural] events and activities relating to the government, politics, economy, etc. of a country, region, or the world

    a public affairs consultant

    The new president is seen to be unreliable on foreign affairs.

    a social/regional/international affairs correspondent

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  affairThesaurus entry for this meaning of affair
    See also  current affairs
  2. 2

    affairs

     [plural] things relating to your personal life, for example what is happening within your family or your financial situation

    We are friends, but I don’t know much about their private affairs.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  affairThesaurus entry for this meaning of affair
  3. 3
    [countable] [usually singular] something that happens, especially something shocking, in public or political life

    Two congressmen resigned because of the affair.

    The president’s popularity remained largely unaffected by the whole affair.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  affairThesaurus entry for this meaning of affair
  4. 4
    [countable] a sexual relationship between two people, especially when one of them is married to someone else
    have an affair:

    Her husband denied that he was having an affair.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  affairThesaurus entry for this meaning of affair
  5. 5
    [countable] used for talking about an event, situation, etc.

    The party was a rather dull affair.

    a family affair:

    The film is very much a family affair – all her brothers are in the cast.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  affairThesaurus entry for this meaning of affair
    1. a.
      informal used for talking about what an object looks like

      Her dress was a long silky affair.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  affairThesaurus entry for this meaning of affair

This is the American English definition of affair. View British English definition of affair.

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