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

Last but not least this week is Salem, an affectionate cat who lives with owner Rebecca Keep and her husband. —Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 14 Dec. 2024

The ensemble, Croce noted, was the creation of ballet fanatics, and its jokes were accurate, affectionate, and hilarious. —The New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2024

But for a squirrel to become as affectionate and loving as Peanut is very rare, Tindal said. —Charles Trepany, USA TODAY, 3 Dec. 2024

Each survivor recounted remarkably similar experiences: imposters posing as military officers filled a void in their lives with affectionate messages, poetry, love songs, and photos purportedly taken during deployments. —Lars Daniel, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024

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