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to state or assert positively; maintain as true:
to affirm one’s loyalty to one’s country; He affirmed that all was well.
to confirm or ratify:
The appellate court affirmed the judgment of the lower court.
to assert solemnly:
He affirmed his innocence.
to express agreement with or commitment to; uphold; support:
to affirm human rights.
Law.

to state something solemnly before a court or magistrate, but without oath.
to ratify and accept a voidable transaction.
(of an appellate court) to determine that the action of the lower court shall stand.

Contemporary Examples

They lead open, affirming, sex-positive, and religious lives in every Christian and Jewish denomination in America.
Is Dan Savage the Gay Santorum? Jay Michaelson May 2, 2012

By affirming that coalition combat forces would pull out of Afghanistan in 2014, NATO handed the Taliban the advantage of time.
Obama’s Afghan Gamble John Barry June 20, 2011

“I was brushing tears away myself,” said Axelrod, affirming the emotional power of the moment.
Sunday Talk: Dianne Feinstein, Lindsey Graham & Bob Woodward on the Petraeus Aftershocks (Video) Ben Teitelbaum, Sara Gilford November 10, 2012

You need to tell them about sexual health in a responsible way while affirming their sexuality.
Sean Strub: Sex, AIDS, Politics and Survival Tim Teeman January 26, 2014

That’s how they kept clean, meeting with the mayor one day and affirming no snitching over nonviolence the next.
De Blasio and the New York City Protesters Have No Blood on Their Hands Jacob Siegel December 21, 2014

Historical Examples

Elinor scoffed the notion; affirming that they would not obtain a morsel of bread to a glass of water, above once in three days.
The Wanderer (Volume 3 of 5) Fanny Burney

I have no hesitation in affirming that it is a perfect masterpiece in its kind.
Life and Letters of Lord Macaulay George Otto Trevelyan

The present status is somewhat chaotic, some affirming and some denying that arterial changes follow the various methods employed.
Arteriosclerosis and Hypertension: Louis Marshall Warfield

Cedarquist had excused himself, affirming that he must look out for his women folk.
The Octopus Frank Norris

In this state of things, I make no difficulty in affirming that the proposal ought to originate from us.
Burke’s Speech on Conciliation with America Edmund Burke

verb (mainly transitive)
(may take a clause as object) to declare to be true; assert positively
to uphold, confirm, or ratify
(intransitive) (law) to make an affirmation
v.

c.1300, from Old French afermier (Modern French affirmer) “affirm, confirm; strengthen, consolidate,” from Latin affirmare “to make steady, strengthen,” figuratively “confirm, corroborate,” from ad- “to” (see ad-) + firmare “strengthen, make firm,” from firmus “strong” (see firm (adj.)). Spelling refashioned 16c. in French and English on Latin model. Related: Affirmed; affirming.