Words / B1

uh-FORD-uh-bl/əˈfɔːdəbl/

Affordable means cheap enough for ordinary people: affordable housing; affordable childcare. Cheap can sound low quality; reasonable is a close twin for prices. Unaffordable is the opposite. UK news pairs affordable homes with nurses, teachers, and first-time buyers. Do not call a luxury watch affordable just because it is on sale — the word is about typical incomes, not a discount.

Meaning

Cheap enough that most people can pay for it.

Examples

• “The council promised more affordable homes for nurses.”
• “The council promised more affordable homes near the hospital.”
• “Train fares are no longer affordable for many commuters on the minimum wage.”

Good to know

affordable housing / childcare / fares. Close: reasonable. Opposite: unaffordable. Cheap can sound low quality.

Near in meaning

reasonable

New