affection
gb/əfˈɛkʃən/ us/əfˈɛkʃən/
B1
English
~ 1600
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
state
1
Warm, gentle feeling toward someone
A warm and kind feeling you have for a person, animal, or thing you like.
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s affection for [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'affection' with 'attention'. 'Affection' is about feelings, while 'attention' is about focus.
Synonyms
fondness (Slightly softer and more casual than 'affection', often used for long-term feelings.)
|
love (Stronger and more intense than 'affection', often implying deeper emotional attachment.)
Antonyms
dislike (A general feeling of not liking someone or something, opposite of affection.)
|
hatred (A strong negative feeling, the extreme opposite of affection.)
Collocations
show affection
|deep affection
|mutual affection
|display affection
|win affection
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She showed great affection for her grandmother.
- Their mutual affection grew over the years.
- The puppy's affection was clear from the way it wagged its tail.
- He has a deep affection for classical music.
- They expressed their affection through small acts of kindness.
Learner examples
- I feel affection for my cat.
- She has affection for her best friend.
- The child showed affection to his mother.
- He has affection for his hometown.
Noun
technical
C1
state
2
Medical condition affecting body part
An illness or problem that affects a part of the body.
Usage pattern:
[a/an] [body part] affection
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'affection' in the medical sense with its emotional meaning; context determines the intended meaning.
Synonyms
ailment (General term for a minor illness.)
|
disorder (Medical term for a physical or mental abnormality.)
Antonyms
health (The state of being free from illness.)
Collocations
chest affection
|skin affection
|lung affection
Themes
medicine
|health
|body
Examples
- The patient was diagnosed with a lung affection.
- Skin affections are common in this climate.
- The doctor treated her for an affection of the joints.
Learner examples
- He has an affection in his chest.
- A skin affection can make you itch.
- The doctor said she has a heart affection.
Grammar
Dictionary form
affection
IPA
GB/əfˈɛkʃən/
US/əfˈɛkʃən/
Syllables & stress
af - fec - tion (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (fec)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: affection
- Plural: affection, affections
Word family
Forms
affections
noun
Core family
affectionate
adjective B1
Related words
affectionately
adverb B2
Negative and opposite forms
unaffectionate
adjective
Expressions
display affection
1/dɪsplˈeɪ əfˈɛkʃən/
fixed phrase
Openly demonstrate fondness or care
To show people you like or care about someone in a way they can see.
Examples
- Some people are shy about displaying affection in public.
- The couple displayed their affection by holding hands.
show affection
1/ʃˈoʊ əfˈɛkʃən/
fixed phrase
Express feelings of fondness or care
To do something that lets someone see you like or care about them.
Examples
- Parents should show affection to their children regularly.
- She isn't afraid to show affection in public.
win someone's affection
1/wˈɪn sˈʌmwˌʌnz əfˈɛkʃən/
fixed phrase
Gain someone's fondness or liking
To make someone like you by what you do or how you are.
Examples
- He tried to win her affection with flowers and kind words.
- The puppy quickly won everyone's affection at the shelter.