Did you know?
Did you know?
The Gender of an affable Personality?
One of the peculiarities of the English language is that ungendered words (especially nouns) may occasionally take gendered pronouns or modifiers. A ship, for example, is often called "she." We also find that some general-purpose words (especially adjectives) tend to be used of one sex rather than the other. Such is the case with affable, which our records show is far more likely to be used to describe a man than a woman. This should not be taken as evidence that men are friendlier or easier to speak with (nor should you shy away from describing a woman as affable), but it does serve to illustrate the manner in which the word is often used.
Examples of affable in a Sentence
Lev Grossman, Time, 7 Feb. 2005
In repose, he can be affable and quite funny. But woe betide anyone who crosses him or who fails to perform to his demanding standards.
—Anthony Bianco et al., Business Week, 9 Sept. 2002
The owner emerged from a galley kitchen … to explain that the restaurant was supposed to be closed. This roly-poly man with graying locks above a noble, high forehead was affable and articulate, not your average short-order cook.
—John Krich, San Francisco Examiner, 21 Aug. 1994
a lively, affable young fellow
as the show's affable host, she keeps the freewheeling gabfest from getting out of hand
David Peisner, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025
By steadily building a following over the years, Karsten Runquist, a 27-year-old aspiring director with an affable and unassuming demeanor, has become, by some measures, one of today’s most prominent movie reviewers.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 17 Oct. 2025
Dean is affable but a little reserved during our call, which took place the week between her performances on weekends one and two of the Austin City Limits Festival.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 17 Oct. 2025
Also strong are Kathryn Allison as Juliet’s maid Angélique, the affable CJ Eldred as Shakespeare and endearingly funny Crystal Kellogg as Anne.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for affable
Cite this Entry
“Affable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/affable. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
affable
adjective
Share