affectionate

adjective

af·​fec·​tion·​ate ə-ˈfek-sh(ə-)nət 

1

: feeling or showing affection or warm regard : loving

affectionate friends

an affectionate nickname

2

: motivated by affection : tender

affectionate care

3

obsolete : inclined, disposed

affectionately adverb

Synonyms

• adoring
• devoted
• fond
• loving
• tender
• tenderhearted

Examples of affectionate in a Sentence

an affectionate child who gives hugs and kisses freely

Recent Examples on the Web

But Manhattan, which stars Mariel Hemingway, Diane Keaton, and Meryl Streep, is perhaps the most whimsically affectionate and viscerally stirring. —Vogue, 25 Jan. 2025

Golden retrievers are known for their affectionate and agreeable temperament, but Buddy and Bruno's relationship stands out as a testament to the emotional bonds that dogs can form when living together. —Raul A. Reyes, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025

But warmth and good feeling, Betancourt comes to discover, can flourish just as easily in bathhouses or under the piers, on iPhone screens or in the affectionate gaze of a nude portraitist. —Jake Nevins, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025

The trainer is in charge, but in an affectionate, caring manner. —Fran Tirado, Them, 10 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

partly borrowed from Medieval Latin affectiōnātus "inclined, disposed, well-disposed," from Latin affectiōn-, affectiō affection + -ātus -ate entry 3; partly formed from affection + -ate entry 3 after Middle French affectionné "having affection for," past participle of affectionner "to have affection for," derivative of affection

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Kids Definition

affectionate

adjective

af·​fec·​tion·​ate ə-ˈfek-sh(ə-)nət 

: feeling or showing a great liking for a person or thing : loving

affectionately adverb