What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
affair
Example
The politician's affair with his intern caused a scandal. [affair: noun]
Example
The company's financial affairs were under investigation. [affairs: plural noun]
incident
Example
There was an incident at the airport that caused a delay in our flight. [incident: noun]
Example
The police responded to an incident involving a robbery at the convenience store. [incident: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Incident is more commonly used than affair in everyday language. Incident is a more general term that can be used in a variety of contexts, while affair is more specific and often associated with personal relationships.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between affair and incident?
Both affair and incident can be used in formal or informal contexts, but affair may be more commonly used in informal contexts when referring to personal relationships.
