Cool MateAffair vs Business
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Affair
Top 2,000 (common)B2noun
Business
Top 1,000 (very common)A1noun
Most common: Business
| Affair | Business | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈfeə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈfer/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈbɪznəs/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈbɪznəs/"]/ |
| Meaning | A secret relationship, usually romantic, that someone has while they are married. | The activity of making or selling goods or services. |
| Example | The politician was involved in a scandal involving an extra-marital affair. | She started her own business last year. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | A1 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun |
| Collocations | current, public, human, administer, arrange, attend to, affairs of state, a state of affairs, whole, glittering, grand, deal with, handle, be involved in, somebody’s involvement in the affair, wash your hands of the affair, brief, casual, clandestine, carry on, conduct, have, go on, affair between, affair with, current, public, human, administer, arrange, attend to, affairs of state, a state of affairs, family, somebody’s own, personal, interfere in, meddle in, somebody’s affair, no affair of somebody’s | big, profitable, private, carry on, conduct, do, deal, transaction, opportunity, in business, on business, business as usual, business or pleasure, mix business with pleasure, daily, real, get on with, go about, make something, have no business doing something, have no business to do something, keep your nose out of somebody’s business, brisk, good, bad, do, attract, drum up, boom, grow, pick up, large, medium-sized, small, have, own, manage, do well, flourish, succeed, assets, premises, failure, daily, real, get on with, go about, make something, have no business doing something, have no business to do something, keep your nose out of somebody’s business, private, important, pressing, get down to, deal with, discuss, any other business, mean business, whole, dirty, messy, big, profitable, private, carry on, conduct, do, deal, transaction, opportunity, in business, on business, business as usual, business or pleasure, mix business with pleasure |
| Antonyms | fidelity, loyalty | leisure, idleness, unemployment |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'affair' with 'event' as in 'the fair was fun.', Using it to mean a casual relationship rather than a secretive one., Saying 'have an affair with' instead of 'have an affair' for conciseness. | Confused with 'busy' — 'business' refers to work, while 'busy' means having a lot to do., Using 'business' as a verb — it is only a noun., Saying 'the business are' instead of 'the business is' — 'business' is a singular noun. |
| Usage notes | Typically used in contexts about relationships. It's more formal than 'hookup' and less formal than 'romantic relationship.' Not appropriate for light conversation. | Use 'business' in general and formal contexts when discussing work, trade, or commerce. It is not typically used in casual conversations about personal matters. |
Frequently asked questions: Affair vs Business
What's the difference between Affair and Business?
Affair: A secret relationship, usually romantic, that someone has while they are married. Business: The activity of making or selling goods or services.
Which is more common: Affair and Business?
Business is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Affair and Business?
Affair is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Affair and Business the same CEFR level?
Affair: B2, Business: A1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Affair and Business?
Affair: noun, Business: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Affair: The politician was involved in a scandal involving an extra-marital affair. Business: She started her own business last year.
Can I use Affair and Business interchangeably?
Not always. Affair and Business are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.