intimacy

American  

[in-tuh-muh-see] / ˈɪn tə mə si /

noun

intimacies plural

1. the state of being intimate.

2. a close, familiar, and usually affectionate or loving personal relationship with another person or group.

   Synonyms:

   affection, warmth, familiarity, closeness

3. a close association with or detailed knowledge or deep understanding of a place, subject, period of history, etc..

   an intimacy with Japan.

4. an act or expression serving as a token of familiarity, affection, or the like.

   to allow the intimacy of using first names.

5. an amorously familiar act; liberty.

6. sexual intercourse.

7. the quality of being comfortable, warm, or familiar.

   the intimacy of the room.

8. privacy, especially as suitable to the telling of a secret.

   in the intimacy of his studio.

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intimacy British  

/ ˈɪntɪməsɪ /

noun

1. close or warm friendship or understanding; personal relationship

2. euphemistic (often plural) sexual relations

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• intimacies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of intimacy

First recorded in 1635–45; intim(ate) ¹ + -acy

Explanation

Intimacy is closeness with another person, like the intimacy that develops between friends as you tell one another your life stories and all your secrets and dreams for the future. The noun intimacy comes from the Latin word intimare, which means “impress,” or “make familiar,” which comes from the Latin intimus, meaning “inmost.” Intimacy is a close, family-like connection. There is another kind of intimacy — physical intimacy, which comes from having a sexual relationship, which, one hopes, fosters the other kind of intimacy as well.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

intimacy intimacies

Heughan said the introduction of intimacy co-ordinators in later series was a "great protection" for actors.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

Heughan said the series, which ended this year after eight seasons, did not initially have intimacy co-ordinators and "we were very much left to our own devices".

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

Nell’s plan to shuttle Gabby off to another local hostess is foiled, and all three women find themselves cohabitating uneasily, even as Gabby and Orla strike up a friendly intimacy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026

I always say the Clive Davis Theater is the toughest ticket in town for its intimacy and the level of programming we do.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 22, 2026

In fact, Mrs. Baylor became extra-polite and extra-careful to withhold any hint of intimacy or special bond.

From "It All Comes Down to This" by Karen English

At moments, poignant domestic intimacies such as cooking and bathing threaten to break the detente and let in some emotion.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 7, 2026

The lines that had once been carved in laws and norms are obsolete in the eyes of an algorithm designed to lure you into the performative intimacies of strangers’ lives.

From Slate ● Sep. 10, 2025

“They find their intimacies not necessarily in the stability and resolution of marriage but in love affairs and chosen family and friendships with women.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2024

Each has consequences on the longer-term lifespan of whatever intimacies their characters can scrape out for themselves.

From Salon ● Apr. 19, 2024

There was no sneaking past its rough guard, even to get to one’s own yard of intimacies.

From "Typical American" by Gish Jen

Related Words

• affection
• confidence
• confidentiality
• familiarity
• friendship
• understanding