Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

rapport

American  
[ra-pawr, -pohr, ruh-] / ræˈpɔr, -ˈpoʊr, rə- /

noun

  1. relation; connection, especially harmonious or sympathetic relation.

    a teacher trying to establish close rapport with students.

    Synonyms:
    understanding, camaraderie, fellowship

rapport British  
/ ræˈpɔː /

noun

  1. (often foll by with) a sympathetic relationship or understanding See also en rapport

"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

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of rapport

First recorded in 1530–40; from French, derivative of rapporter “to bring back, report,” equivalent to r(e)- re- + apporter ( Old French aporter, from Latin apportāre, equivalent to ap- ap- 1 + portāre “to carry”; see port 5)

Explanation

Rapport is a good sense of understanding and trust. If you have good rapport with your neighbors, they won't mind if you kick your ball onto their property every now and then. If you have rapport with someone, you two communicate with trust and sympathy. The word is often used to mean good interaction between people in different positions or roles such as parent and teacher, teacher and student, doctor and patient, supervisor and worker, or speaker and audience. It is always important to establish rapport with people you come into contact with regularly. Pronounce this borrowed word from the French ra-POOR.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing rapport

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.

“Everybody’s just trying to assess what we should do next,” said Sharon Rapport, director of California state policy for the Corporation for Supportive Housing, an advocacy group that also works with homeless nonprofits.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 20, 2024

Rapport said he and Osofksy started the club last year as a way to offer queer programming in the Hudson Valley that “didn’t take place in a bar, that wasn’t D.J.-related or drag-related.”

From New York Times • Feb. 1, 2024

Young French-based Iranian GM Alireza Firouzja also enjoyed a strong second half in the event to pass Hungarian front-runner GM Richard Rapport for second place.

From Washington Times • Sep. 21, 2021

In “Spatial Rapport #1,” children appear on parallel bars of color as if they’re climbing a monumental staircase.

From Washington Post • Feb. 13, 2020

Rapport implies the existence of a mutual responsiveness, such that every member of the group reacts immediately, spontaneously, and sympathetically to the sentiments and attitudes of every other member.

From Introduction to the Science of Sociology by Park, Robert Ezra

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "rapport" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com