affairs
word
Definition
Affairs means matters, activities, or parts of life that someone deals with, especially personal, business, or public matters. It can also mean secret romantic or sexual relationships, especially when one person is already married or committed.
Usage & Nuances
Most often used in plural. Common collocations include 'personal affairs', 'foreign affairs', and 'family affairs'. Be careful: 'an affair' often means a secret romantic relationship, while plural 'affairs' often means general matters or official business, though it can also refer to multiple love affairs.
Example Sentences
The minister spoke about foreign affairs on TV.
basic
The movie is about the king's secret affairs.
basic
I don't want to get involved in their family affairs.
natural
She keeps her personal affairs private.
basic
He always acts like everyone else's affairs are his business.
natural
The tabloids were full of stories about his past affairs.
natural