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
However, by 2013, the King's multiple scandals had caught up with him, and he was maligned for his romantic affairs, financial misappropriation and an infamous elephant hunting trip to Africa.
—
Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
Rather than simply making the games in English and attempting to find success solely in English-speaking regions, Shpirna broadened his horizons and opted to make the games international affairs.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
Adidas has sought to put the Yeezy affair behind it since ending the highly profitable partnership with the brand’s designer – the rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West – over his antisemitic rants.
—Reuters 19 Hr Ago, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025
Paramount’s linear broadcast and cable networks were hit hard, with marketing, communications/PR, business affairs and programming departments all seeing major cuts in personnel.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for affair
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
Rather than simply making the games in English and attempting to find success solely in English-speaking regions, Shpirna broadened his horizons and opted to make the games international affairs.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
Adidas has sought to put the Yeezy affair behind it since ending the highly profitable partnership with the brand’s designer – the rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West – over his antisemitic rants.
—Reuters 19 Hr Ago, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025
Paramount’s linear broadcast and cable networks were hit hard, with marketing, communications/PR, business affairs and programming departments all seeing major cuts in personnel.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for affair
Cite this Entry
“Affair.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/affair. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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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