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Meaning & use

friendship

noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈfrendʃɪp/
US/ˈfrendʃɪp/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable or uncountable

    A close, caring bond between people who like and trust each other.

    Grammar: Countable for specific bonds: a long friendship. Uncountable in general: value friendship.

    Patterns

    • friendship with someone
    • friendship between people

    Their friendship began on the first day of school.

    I value your friendship more than any gift.

    A strong friendship grew between the two neighbors.

  2. noununcountableformal

    Goodwill and peaceful cooperation between groups or countries.

    Grammar: Used for relations between nations or groups.

    Patterns

    • friendship between countries

    The treaty promoted friendship between the two nations.

    The exchange program builds friendship across cultures.

    Leaders spoke of friendship and trust.

  3. noununcountable

    The state of being friends.

    Grammar: Often as a theme: stories about friendship.

    Patterns

    • the value of friendship

    The film is a story about friendship and loyalty.

    Friendship takes time and effort.

    Children learn friendship through play.

Word forms

pluralfriendships

Common combinations

lifelong friendship
They formed a lifelong friendship in college.
close friendship
A close friendship developed between them.
strike up a friendship
She struck up a friendship with the new neighbor.
strain a friendship
The argument strained their friendship.
value friendship
He values friendship above wealth.
end a friendship
It hurt to end a friendship of ten years.

Synonyms and how they differ

companionship
Companionship means being kept company and doesn't require deep affection.
camaraderie
Camaraderie is the warm comradeship within a group, like a team, rather than a one-to-one bond.
acquaintance
Acquaintance is a weaker connection, knowing someone slightly.
fellowship
Fellowship is a formal or religious word for a shared group bond.

Opposites

enmityhostility

Word family

friend noun
a person you like and trust
friendly adjective
kind and pleasant
befriend verb
to become a friend to
unfriendly adjective
not kind or welcoming
friendliness noun
the quality of being friendly

Commonly confused: friendship or relationship?

friendship vs relationship

Relationship is broader and includes family and romance. Friendship specifically means being friends.

Practice

Their ____ lasted more than forty years, from school days to retirement.

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