amicable

[am-i-kuh-buhl]

adjective

1. characterized by or showing goodwill; friendly; peaceable.

   an amicable settlement.

   Synonyms: agreeable

amicable

/ ˈæmɪkəbəl /

adjective

1. characterized by friendliness

   an amicable agreement

Other Word Forms

• amicability noun
• amicably adverb
• amicableness noun
• unamicability noun
• unamicable adjective
• unamicableness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of amicable¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Late Latin amīcābilis, equivalent to amīc(us) “friend, friendly” + -ābilis adjective suffix meaning “capable of, tending to” ( -able ); amiable

Word History and Origins

Origin of amicable¹

C15: from Late Latin amīcābilis, from Latin amīcus friend; related to amāre to love

Example Sentences

He writes in a wry, amicable style, skillfully layering on his chosen leitmotifs—the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D.

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The split fuelled centuries of conflict, but in modern times relations between the Catholic Church and the Church of England, often referred to as the Anglican Church, have been amicable.

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It was a marked change from more amicable comments in recent months, before the latest flare-up.

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She will need a lawyer to buy a house, in any event, and it’s a false economy to try to navigate a divorce — they are rarely, if ever, amicable — without representation.

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And while they were very amicable during the news conference, it also quickly became clear that neither had changed their positions on the key issues where they disagree.

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Related Words

• amiable 
• civil 
• cordial 
• courteous 
• harmonious 
• neighborly 
• peaceful 
• polite