What does affiche mean?
An affiche is a printed or written notice displayed publicly, typically on a wall, board, or kiosk, to announce an event, performance, sale, or proclamation. Borrowed directly from French, where it remains the everyday word for a poster, the term entered English usage and survives today as a somewhat literary or specialist alternative to 'poster' or 'notice.' It carries a distinctly Continental connotation, evoking the papered kiosks of Parisian boulevards and the golden age of illustrated advertising art, when artists such as Toulouse-Lautrec elevated the commercial placard into fine art. In contemporary writing, an affiche most often appears in historical, artistic, or travel contexts rather than casual conversation. The word derives ultimately from the Latin verb figere, 'to fasten,' via the French verb afficher, 'to display or post' — the same root that gives English 'affix.' For readers encountering it, an affiche is best understood simply as a public announcement made of paper and paste.
nounA printed notice or poster displayed in a public place to announce an event, sale, or other information.
- A printed or written notice posted in a public place to announce something.
"The gallery's opening was announced by an elegant affiche pasted on every corner lamppost."
"Torn affiches layered the kiosk walls like a collage of the city's promises."
"The theatre company printed an affiche for each performance and pasted them along the boulevard."
Standard pluralization by adding -es/-s; used when referring to multiple posted notices.
"The walls were covered with affiches advertising concerts and exhibitions."
The word for a humble street poster carries the same ancient root as 'affix' — both trace back to the Latin verb meaning 'to fasten.'
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of affiche
The word affiche comes from the French afficher, meaning 'to post or display publicly,' which combines the prefix a- (from Latin ad-, 'toward') with ficher, 'to fix or fasten,' derived from the Latin figere. It thus shares its ultimate root with English words such as 'affix' and 'fix.' The term passed into English, likely in the nineteenth century, retaining its French form and flavor.
How affiche is actually used
Somewhat formal or literary in modern English; 'poster' or 'notice' is more common in everyday speech. The word retains a Continental, especially French, flavor and often appears in discussions of art, advertising history, or European city life.
Easily confused with affiche
An affix is a prefix or suffix attached to a word, while an affiche is a public poster or notice.