acquaintance
Americannoun
-
a person known to one, but usually not a close friend.
-
the state of being acquainted or casually familiar with someone or something.
As far as I know, no one of my acquaintance has traveled around the world.
-
personal knowledge as a result of study, experience, etc..
a good acquaintance with French wines.
- Synonyms:
- awareness, familiarity
-
(used with a plural verb) the persons with whom one is acquainted.
noun
-
a person with whom one has been in contact but who is not a close friend
-
knowledge of a person or thing, esp when slight
-
to come into social contact with
-
those persons collectively whom one knows
-
philosophy the relation between a knower and the object of his knowledge, as contrasted with knowledge by description (esp in the phrase knowledge by acquaintance )
Related Words
Acquaintance, associate, companion, friend refer to a person with whom one is in contact. An acquaintance is someone recognized by sight or someone known, though not intimately: a casual acquaintance. An associate is a person who is often in one's company, usually because of some work, enterprise, or pursuit in common: a business associate. A companion is a person who shares one's activities, fate, or condition: a traveling companion; companion in despair. A friend is a person with whom one is on intimate terms and for whom one feels a warm affection: a trusted friend.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of acquaintance
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English acoyntaunce, aqueinta(u)nce, from Old French acointance; equivalent to acquaint + -ance
Explanation
An acquaintance is someone you know a little about, but they’re not your best friend or anything. Acquaintance is also having knowledge about something specific, like horror films or the farming techniques of Chinese peasants. The root of acquaintance is the Old French word acointier, a verb meaning “make known.” Being the acquaintance of a person or topic means that you know something about it. An acquaintance is less intimate than a friend, like a person in your class whose name you know, but that’s it. When you “make the acquaintance of” someone, you meet them for the first time. If you know nothing about eggplants, you’d say, “I have little acquaintance with eggplants.”
Vocabulary lists containing acquaintance
Words from the 4th of July Songbook
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Commonly Misspelled Words, List 1
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Metamorphosis
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Acquaintance is unmediated by other ways of knowing, including inference, so beliefs gained though acquaintance are non-inferential, which is what the foundationalist wants.
From Textbooks • Jun. 15, 2022
Anyway, I have a great solution for this: Mail the folk art masterpieces to Grandma, Grandpa, Great-Aunt, Auntie, and Childfree Acquaintance.
From Slate • Nov. 2, 2020
He quickly got an agent and acted on Broadway in such productions as 2007's "Old Acquaintance" and the 2010 revival of Arthur Miller's "A View From the Bridge."
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 17, 2015
A new member is given the default settings of Friends, Family or Acquaintance and encouraged to create new circles under headings of their own choosing.
From BBC • Jul. 20, 2011
The English Dances are Country-dances, which require several Couples at a time; and all that perform in them, close in by Turns, which gives Opportunities of making an Acquaintance.
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.
