age-affirming
|age-af-firm-ing|
🇺🇸
/ˈeɪdʒəˌfɝmɪŋ/
🇬🇧
/ˈeɪdʒəˌfɜːmɪŋ/
(age-affirm)
validating someone's age
Etymology
'age-affirming' is a modern compound formed from the noun 'age' and the verb 'affirm'. 'age' originates from Latin via Old French, and 'affirm' originates from Latin 'affirmare'.
'age' comes from Latin 'aetas' through Old French 'aage' and Middle English 'age'. 'affirm' comes from Latin 'affirmare' which passed into Old French and Middle English; the compound 'age-affirming' is a recent English formation combining these elements with the present-participial suffix '-ing'.
The separate elements originally meant 'a period of life' and 'to state as true or strengthen'; together in modern usage they evolved into a specialized adjectival phrase meaning 'supporting or validating a person's age' with emphasis on opposing ageism.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
describing language, actions, policies, or environments that validate, respect, or support a person's age or age-related identity; opposing ageism.
The community center adopted age-affirming practices to ensure older members felt respected and included.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/22 00:28