companion

¹

[kuhm-pan-yuhn]

noun

1. a person who is frequently in the company of, associates with, or accompanies another.

   my son and his two companions.

   Synonyms: mate, partner, comrade, associate

2. a person employed to accompany, assist, or live with another in the capacity of a helpful friend.

3. a mate or match for something.

   White wine is the usual companion of fish.

4. a handbook or guide.

   a bird watcher's companion.

5. a member of the lowest rank in an order of knighthood or of a grade in an order.

6. Also called companion star, comes. Astronomy.,  the fainter of the two stars that constitute a double star.

7. Obsolete.,  a fellow.

verb (used with object)

1. to be a companion to; accompany.

companion

²

[kuhm-pan-yuhn]

noun

Nautical.

1. a covering over the top of a companionway.

2. a companionway.

companion

¹

/ kəmˈpænjən /

noun

1. a person who is an associate of another or others; comrade

2. (esp formerly) an employee, usually a woman, who provides company for an employer, esp an elderly woman

3. 1. one of a pair; match

   2. ( as modifier )

      a companion volume

4. a guidebook or handbook

5. a member of the lowest rank of any of certain orders of knighthood

6. astronomy the fainter of the two components of a double star

verb

1. (tr) to accompany or be a companion to

companion

²

/ kəmˈpænjən /

noun

1. nautical

   1. a raised frame on an upper deck with windows to give light to the deck below

   2. ( as modifier )

      a companion ladder

Other Word Forms

• companionless adjective
• uncompanioned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of companion¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English compainoun, from Anglo-French; Old French compaignon, from Late Latin compāniōn- (stem of compāniō ) “messmate,” equivalent to com- “with, together” + pān(is) “bread” + -iōn- noun suffix; presumably as translation of a Germanic word; compare Gothic gahlaiba, Old High German galeipo; com-, -ion

Origin of companion²

First recorded in 1730–40; alteration of Dutch kampanje “quarterdeck,” possibly from Italian compagna “pantry (of a ship)”

Word History and Origins

Origin of companion¹

C13: from Late Latin compāniō, literally: one who eats bread with another, from Latin com- with + pānis bread

Origin of companion²

C18: from Dutch kompanje quarterdeck, from Old French compagne, from Old Italian compagna pantry, perhaps ultimately from Latin pānis bread

Synonym Study

See acquaintance.

Example Sentences

Why go through the trouble of making a new friend when you can turn to digital companions embedded in apps like Instagram or X?

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

For about 50 million people in the United States, pain becomes a constant, invisible companion that can persist for years or even decades.

Read more on Science Daily

What they ended up discovering was that their supposed companion was allegedly more interested in their possessions than their time.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Rudy, the dog my dad couldn’t ever hope to find, would become his companion after all—only not in this lifetime.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

His company, Pickle, aims to develop personalized AI companions akin to Tony Stark’s Jarvis in “Iron Man.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• accomplice 
• aide 
• ally 
• assistant 
• associate 
• buddy 
• co-worker 
• colleague 
• comrade 
• cousin 
• crony 
• guide 
• mate 
• nurse 
• partner 
• playmate 
• protector 

When To Use

What does companion mean?

A companion is a person who frequently spends time with you, associates with you, or accompanies you when you go places.Pets are also commonly considered companions.The word companion implies that you spend a lot of time together. A person you call a companion can be a friend or a romantic partner. A travel companion is someone you travel with.Companionship is the state of spending time with someone or having someone to spend time with—the state of having a companion or being someone’s companion.Sometimes, a hired helper is called a companion, especially when they help to take care of an older person.Companion is sometimes also used to refer to a thing that accompanies or complements something else, such as in the phrase companion piece, which often refers to an artistic work that pairs well with another work. More specifically, a companion refers to a handbook, guidebook, or field guide (the word is especially used in the titles of such books).In astronomy, companion is used in a more specific way to refer to a companion star—the less bright star in a set of stars called a double star. (The brighter star is called the primary.)Example: People make fun of older people for using dating sites, but the truth is that a lot of them are just lonely and looking for a companion.