WordGarden.ioaffordably
Pronunciation
UK
- /əfˈɔːdəbli/
US
- /əˈfɔrdəbli/
Meanings
Adverb
at a price that is cheap enough or manageable enough to pay
Beyond the definition
Imagine you're building your dream treehouse. You might want the fanciest rope ladders and sparkling windows, but if you want to finish it this summer, you need to find materials that are affordably priced. This means sourcing good-quality items without breaking the bank!
To do something affordably means to do it at a price most people can manage. It's not necessarily doing it cheaply, but rather reasonably, considering the value. You might say, "We managed to vacation affordably by camping," or "The developer promised to price the new apartments affordably." It's about finding a balance between wanting something and managing the cost of it.
Affordably describes the manner of doing something within one's financial means—reasonably, sensibly, and without excessive expense. It goes beyond simply acting "cheaply"; acting affordably considers value and budget. While a candy bar might be sold cheaply, a car is maintained affordably if the costs reflect smart spending and reasonable value rather than low quality.
The word implies a practical consideration: can the average person (or a specific target group) purchase or do this without significant financial strain? You'll often see it used to modify verbs in discussions about essential needs, such as "housing people affordably" or "accessing healthcare affordably," but also for desirable goods, like "dressing affordably" or "traveling affordably."
It's important to note that what qualifies as doing something affordably varies greatly depending on location and income. Living affordably in a rural area looks very different from living affordably in a major city.
So, when something is priced or done affordably, it means it strikes a balance between quality, desirability, and the ability to pay—making it accessible to a wider range of people.
Examples
- 1
Cafe prices
The cafe keeps its lunch specials priced affordably for students and office workers.
- 2
First apartment
She furnished her first apartment affordably by buying a few things at a time.
- 3
Cost of living
Many people move to smaller towns so they can live more affordably.
- 4
Travel
If you book early, you can travel quite affordably even in summer.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Online education
The course is offered online so people outside big cities can study affordably.
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
- cost-effectively
- reasonably
- on a budget
Contrast
- expensively
- unaffordably
Used with (collocations)
- affordably priced
- live affordably
- priced affordably
Word family
Explore
- budgeting
- cost of living
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- affordably