companionship
Americannoun
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association as companion; fellowship.
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Printing. a group of compositors working under a foreman.
noun
Usage
What does companionship mean? 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. A companion is a person who frequently spends time with you, associates with you, or accompanies you when you go places. Companionship is similar to friendship, and a person one calls a companion is usually their friend or romantic partner. But the word companionship specifically implies that a lot of time is spent in each other’s company. The word commonly applies to relationships between people, but pets can also provide companionship. 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 companionship.
Etymology
Origin of companionship
First recorded in 1540–50; companion 1 + -ship
Explanation
Companionship is when you feel a sense of closeness being with another person. Your grandmother's companionship with her best friend might keep her feeling young and happy. You probably experience companionship with your best friend or romantic partner, or maybe even with your siblings. A feeling of fellowship or togetherness is companionship — it's one of the reasons people get married or seek out like-minded friends. The word comes from companion, from the Old French compagnon, "fellow, mate, or friend," rooted in the Late Latin companionem, or "bread fellow," combining com, "with," and panis, "bread."
Vocabulary lists containing companionship
Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Suffixes: -ship
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Kareem Between
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-ship
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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.
What followed was a story that has resonated worldwide as 11 strangers answered the call and helped transform loss and heartbreak into an unforgettable week of connection, companionship and adventure.
From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026
As scams surge nationwide, the “lonely hearts” ruse remains a classic: Con artists, who could be prisoners on contraband cellphones or overseas syndicates, prey on vulnerable people seeking companionship.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 2026
"You meet all sorts of people from all walks of life... you're sure of companionship."
From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026
One in five students in the study said they used AI for emotionally intimate companionship.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 26, 2026
I could have used some companionship that week, but maybe I wouldn’t have believed anything about Jeffy until I was ready, no matter what Dad said.
From "Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie" by Jordan Sonnenblick
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
