VocabDictionary

affected

/əˈfɛktɪd/intermediate Level

English Meaning & Definitions

1.adjective

Artificial, pretentious, or designed to impress others rather than being genuine.

Example Sentences:
  • He spoke with an affected British accent that sounded completely out of place.
  • Her affected laughter made everyone in the room feel uncomfortable.
2.verb

Past tense and past participle of 'affect'; having been influenced, changed, or impacted by something.

Example Sentences:
  • The drought has severely affected the crop yields this season.
  • The new regulations have affected how we conduct our daily business operations.
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English Synonyms & Near Equivalents

English Antonyms & Opposites

Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown

Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “affected”.

Thesaurus Entry
Cultural Origin & Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'affectus', the past participle of 'afficere' (to act upon, influence), which is a combination of 'ad-' (to) and 'facere' (to do/make). In the 16th century, the meaning evolved from 'influenced' to 'artificially assumed' or 'put on' to impress others.

Memory Aid & Mnemonic

Think of someone 'affecting' (acting out) a fake personality to get 'effect' (attention) from others.

Frequently Asked Questions About “affected

1. What is the meaning of “affected” in English?

In English, affected (adjective) is defined as: “Artificial, pretentious, or designed to impress others rather than being genuine.”.

2. How do you use “affected” in a sentence?

He spoke with an affected British accent that sounded completely out of place.

3. What are English synonyms of “affected”?

4. What is the etymology and word origin of “affected”?

Derived from the Latin 'affectus', the past participle of 'afficere' (to act upon, influence), which is a combination of 'ad-' (to) and 'facere' (to do/make). In the 16th century, the meaning evolved from 'influenced' to 'artificially assumed' or 'put on' to impress others.