English Reference
Adjective

affordable

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US /əˈfɔɹdəbəɫ/ UK /ɐfˈɔːdəbəl/ af·ford·able

adj.cheap enough for most people to buy or pay for without having money problems.

adj.priced reasonably enough to be within the financial means of an average purchaser.


SIMPLE

The city needs more affordable housing for young families.

CONTEXTUAL

They are looking for an affordable apartment that is still close to the city center.

COMPLEX

While the initial purchase price of the electric vehicle was high, the long-term savings on fuel and maintenance made it an affordable option for the budget-conscious commuter.

Usage

Typically precedes the noun it modifies or follows a linking verb like 'be' or 'become'.

Usage affordable housing

Manuzio had a vision in which books – until then, expensive and rarefied objects – might be portable and affordable.

The Guardian· 11 Aug 2026

As part of the deal, Moderna has agreed to guarantee fast and affordable supply of the vaccine to low and middle-income countries in any future pandemic.

BBC News· 21 Apr 2026

Common in health writing


From afford + -able.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated