buddy

¹

[buhd-ee]

noun

plural

buddies 

1. comrade or chum (often used as a term of address).

2. bud.

verb (used without object)

buddied, buddying 

1. to be a companion; be friendly or on intimate terms.

verb phrase

1. buddy up to,  to become friendly with or curry the favor of.

   He was buddying up to the political bosses.

2. buddy up

   1. to become friendly; be on friendly or intimate terms.

   2. to work closely together.

      to buddy up with a student from another high school.

Buddy

²

[buhd-ee]

noun

1. a male given name.

buddy

/ ˈbʌdɪ /

noun

1. Also called (as a term of address): bud. an informal word for friend

2. a volunteer who visits and gives help and support to a person suffering from AIDS

3. a volunteer who gives help and support to a person who has become disabled but is returning to work

verb

1. (intr) to act as a buddy to a person suffering from AIDS

Word History and Origins

Origin of buddy¹

1840–50, perhaps reduced form of brother

Word History and Origins

Origin of buddy¹

C19: probably a baby-talk variant (US) of _brother

Example Sentences

“Over here, buddy,” said a vendor as he flashed a business card.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He has previously pushed back at suggestions that the support amounted to a bailout for what Warren, in a statement on Thursday, dubbed the administration's "billionaire buddies".

Read more on BBC

If you’re a league commissioner and you want a buddy…get a dog.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

This viewer was concerned about the way “Boots” barks “attention!”—with a montage of Cam’s bullying at school and his rash decision to enlist with the straight Ray via the Marine Corps “buddy system.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

I was actually touring with a buddy of mine, Craig Robinson; I was his host for like six years.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• associate 
• chum 
• co-worker 
• companion 
• comrade 
• confidant 
• crony 
• mate 
• peer 

When To Use

What does buddy mean?

Buddy is most commonly used as an informal word for a friend.Buddy is often used as a form of address (as in Hey, buddy, I haven’t seen you in a while!) or a term of endearment (an affectionate way of referring to someone). It is sometimes shortened to bud. Buddy is primarily used in the United States.Example: We don’t get together as much as we used to, but whenever I hang out with my buddies from college it’s still like old times.