affair

Universal Words noun public / political activities 1 (affairs) [pl.] events that are of public interest or political importance: world / international / business affairs * an expert on foreign affairs (= political events in other countries) * affairs of state seealsoCURRENTAFFAIRS event 2 [C,usually sing.] an event that people are talking about or describing in a particular way: The newspapers exaggerated the whole affair wildly. * The debate was a pretty disappointing affair. * She wanted the celebration to be a simple family affair. * the Whitewater affair relationship 3 [C] a sexual relationship between two people, usually when one or both of them is married to sb else: She is having an affair with her boss. * They had a passionate affair for six months. seealsoLOVEAFFAIR private business 4 (affairs) [pl.] matters connected with a person's private business and financial situation: I looked after my father's financial affairs. 5 [sing.] a thing that sb is responsible for (and that other people should not be concerned with): How I spend my money is my affair. object 6 [C] (old-fashioned) (with an adjective) an object that is unusual or difficult to describe: Her hat was an amazing affair with feathers and a huge brim. IDIOMS see STATEn.