Affirmance of judgment

What does Affirmance of judgment mean in American Law?

The definition of Affirmance of judgment in the law of the United States, as defined by the lexicographer Arthur Leff in his legal dictionary is:

See affirm. It should be noted that not every failure by a higher court to overturn a lower-court judgment is an affirmance, though it may have the same effect on the parties’ interest. Discretionary refusal to hear an appeal (e.g., as when the Supreme Court denies certiorari), or dismissal of an appeal for failure to meet some appellate procedural requirement, is not an affirmance, at least for the purposes of using the action as precedent; “affirmance of judgment” implies at least

some attention having been given to the merits. See also denial of certiorari.