goodwill

American  

[good-wil] / ˈgʊdˈwɪl /

Or good will

noun

1. friendly disposition; benevolence; kindness.

   Synonyms:

   friendliness

2. cheerful acquiescence or consent.

3. Commerce. an intangible, saleable asset arising from the reputation of a business and its relations with its customers, distinct from the value of its stock and other tangible assets.

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goodwill British  

/ ˌɡʊdˈwɪl /

noun

1. a feeling of benevolence, approval, and kindly interest

2. (modifier) resulting from, showing, or designed to show goodwill

   the government sent a goodwill mission to Moscow

   a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF

3. willingness or acquiescence

4. accounting an intangible asset taken into account in assessing the value of an enterprise and reflecting its commercial reputation, customer connections, etc

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Related Words

See favor.

Etymology

Origin of goodwill

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English gōd willa. See good, will ²

Example Sentences

Which means Google is on the hook for precisely zero dollars — though any contribution at all is subject to the company’s goodwill.

From Los Angeles Times

British Gas actioned three minor ones including a written apology and a goodwill credit of £100 for shortfalls in service.

From BBC

"The way we've been treated has been disgusting," said the 43-year-old farmer who -despite receiving compensation from the company as a goodwill gesture - was still having issues.

From BBC

It also threatens to upend decades of U.S. foreign policy under which Washington engendered goodwill with allies by protecting sea lanes and serving as a guarantor of the free trade of oil.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Venezuelan government has begun releasing detainees considered political prisoners by human rights groups, in what officials described as a goodwill gesture.

From BBC