肯定性答辩；积极答辩 affirmative defense

〈美〉指被告并不否认原告所主张之事实的真实性，而是提出其他的理由来说明为什么自己不应承担责任的答辩。因此，它并不反驳原告诉求之真实性，而只是否认原告在法律上有起诉的权利。根据联邦及大多数州的民事诉讼规则，所有的肯定性答辩都必须在应答书状〔responsive pleading〕即答辩状〔answer〕中提出，且被告对其所提之事由负证明责任。这些事由包括和解和清偿〔accord and satisfaction〕、自担风险〔assumption of risk〕、混合过失〔contributory negligence〕、胁迫〔duress〕、时效、不容否认〔estoppel〕等。在刑事诉讼中，构成肯定性答辩的事由包括精神失常、醉酒、自卫、无意识行为〔automatism〕、不在犯罪现场〔alibi〕、受胁迫等。

An affirmative defense to a civil lawsuit or criminal charge is a fact or set of facts other than those alleged by the plaintiff or prosecutor which, if proven by the defendant, defeats or mitigates the legal consequences of the defendant's otherwise unlawful conduct. In civil lawsuits, affirmative defenses include the statute of limitations, the statute of frauds, waiver, and other affirmative defenses such as, in the United States, those listed in Rule 8 (c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. In criminal prosecutions, examples of affirmative defenses are self defense, insanity, and the statute of limitations.

例句1

Furthermore, fair use is an affirmative defense, meaning that you would have to prove that your use was fair after you have been sued.

更近一步说，合理使用是一种积极答辩，这意味着被起诉后，你需要证明你的使用是合理的。

例句2

It should be noted that liability insurance (or even a liability waiver) might not offer protection (or an affirmative defense) if a suit is filed.

应当指出，若诉讼被提交，则责任险(或甚至责任豁免)不提供保障(或肯定性答辩)。

例句3

Most affirmative defenses must be pleaded in a timely manner by a defendant in order for the court to consider them, or else they are considered waived by the defendant's failure to assert them. 

大多数积极答辩必须由被告及时提出，以便法院考虑，否则若被告未能主张这些抗辩就被视为放弃。