- a deliberate insult
- to insult, esp openly
- to offend the pride or dignity of
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
af•front /əˈfrʌnt/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
v. [~ + object;
usually: be + ~ ed]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- a deliberate act or display of disrespect;
insult:That false accusation was an affront to my integrity.
v. [~ + object;
usually: be + ~ ed]
- to cause offense to;
insult:was deeply affronted by the accusation.
af•front
(ə frunt′),USA pronunciation n.
v.t.
af•front′ed•ly, adv.
af•front′ed•ness, n.
af•front′er, n.
af•front′ing•ly, adv.
- a personally offensive act or word;
deliberate act or display of disrespect;
intentional slight;
insult:an affront to the king. - an offense to one's dignity or self-respect.
v.t.
- to offend by an open manifestation of disrespect or insolence:His speech affronted all of us.
- to make ashamed or confused;
embarrass. - [Archaic.]to front;
face;
look on. - [Obs.]to meet or encounter face to face;
confront.
- Vulgar Latin *affrontāre, derivative of Latin phrase ad frontem at or toward the forehead (as the seat of one's feelings or dignity). See ad-, front
- Middle French af(f )ronter to strike in the face
- Middle English afrounten 1300–50
af•front′ed•ness, n.
af•front′er, n.
af•front′ing•ly, adv.
- 1. impertinence; contumely, scorn; indignity, abuse, outrage. See insult. 3. insult, slight, abuse.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
affront /əˈfrʌnt/ n
'affront' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):