What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
affections
Example
She had deep affections for her childhood home. [affections: noun]
Example
He showed his affections for his girlfriend by giving her a bouquet of flowers. [affections: plural noun]
Example
The movie left me with a warm feeling of affections towards the characters. [affections: plural noun]
emotions
Example
She couldn't control her emotions and burst into tears. [emotions: plural noun]
Example
His emotional state was affected by the news of his father's passing. [emotional: adjective]
Example
The actor conveyed a range of emotions through his performance. [emotions: plural noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Emotions is a more common word than affections in everyday language, as it covers a wider range of feelings and experiences.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between affections and emotions?
Both affections and emotions can be used in formal and informal contexts, but affections may be more commonly used in romantic or poetic language, while emotions is more versatile and can be used in a variety of contexts.