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companion

1 American  
[kuhm-pan-yuhn] / kəmˈpæn yən /

noun

  1. a person who is frequently in the company of, associates with, or accompanies another.

    my son and his two companions.
    Synonyms:
    mate , partner , comrade , associate

  2. a person employed to accompany, assist, or live with another in the capacity of a helpful friend.

  3. a mate or match for something.

    White wine is the usual companion of fish.

  4. a handbook or guide.

    a bird watcher's companion.

  5. a member of the lowest rank in an order of knighthood or of a grade in an order.

  6. Also called companion star, comes.  Astronomy.  the fainter of the two stars that constitute a double star.

  7. Obsolete.  a fellow.

verb (used with object)

  1. to be a companion to; accompany.

companion 2 American  
[kuhm-pan-yuhn] / kəmˈpæn yən /

noun

Nautical.

  1. a covering over the top of a companionway.

  2. a companionway.

companion 1 British  
/ kəmˈpænjən /

noun

  1. a person who is an associate of another or others; comrade

  2. (esp formerly) an employee, usually a woman, who provides company for an employer, esp an elderly woman

    1. one of a pair; match

    2. ( as modifier )

      a companion volume

  4. a guidebook or handbook

  5. a member of the lowest rank of any of certain orders of knighthood

  6. astronomy the fainter of the two components of a double star

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (tr) to accompany or be a companion to

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
companion 2 British  
/ kəmˈpænjən /

noun

  1. nautical

    1. a raised frame on an upper deck with windows to give light to the deck below

    2. ( as modifier )

      a companion ladder
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

What does companion mean? A companion is a person who frequently spends time with you, associates with you, or accompanies you when you go places.Pets are also commonly considered companions.The word companion implies that you spend a lot of time together. A person you call a companion can be a friend or a romantic partner. A travel companion is someone you travel with.Companionship is the state of spending time with someone or having someone to spend time with—the state of having a companion or being someone’s companion.Sometimes, a hired helper is called a companion, especially when they help to take care of an older person.Companion is sometimes also used to refer to a thing that accompanies or complements something else, such as in the phrase companion piece, which often refers to an artistic work that pairs well with another work. More specifically, a companion refers to a handbook, guidebook, or field guide (the word is especially used in the titles of such books).In astronomy, companion is used in a more specific way to refer to a companion star—the less bright star in a set of stars called a double star. (The brighter star is called the primary.)Example: People make fun of older people for using dating sites, but the truth is that a lot of them are just lonely and looking for a companion.

Related Words

See acquaintance.

Other Word Forms

  • companionless adjective
  • uncompanioned adjective

Etymology

Origin of companion1

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English compainoun, from Anglo-French; Old French compaignon, from Late Latin compāniōn- (stem of compāniō ) “messmate,” equivalent to com- “with, together” + pān(is) “bread” + -iōn- noun suffix; presumably as translation of a Germanic word; compare Gothic gahlaiba, Old High German galeipo; com-, -ion

Origin of companion2

First recorded in 1730–40; alteration of Dutch kampanje “quarterdeck,” possibly from Italian compagna “pantry (of a ship)”

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Weeks after the fire, Jay founded Altadena Musicians, and the companion Instrumental Giving app followed in April to connect musicians in need with donors.

From Los Angeles Times

At the Hong Kong station on Friday, many commuters took the flyers demanding action, though few stopped to chat with Kwan or his companions.

From Barron's

Retired care home assistant manager Joyce said she thought a growing population helped older people start to communicate with other people and get new companions.

From BBC

He craved the validation of companions that never disagreed with him.

From The Wall Street Journal

She and her companion were detained after police determined she was wanted in Wisconsin.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.