friction
Americannoun
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frictions
plural
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Physics. surface resistance to relative motion, as of a body sliding or rolling.
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the rubbing of the surface of one body against that of another.
Rubber on pavement has more friction than steel wheel on steel rail.
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dissension or conflict between people, nations, etc., because of differing ideas, wishes, etc..
Friction between family members can escalate during a heat wave, as extreme weather can cause tempers to fray.
- Synonyms:
- contention, antagonism, clash, dissidence, discord
noun
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a resistance encountered when one body moves relative to another body with which it is in contact
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the act, effect, or an instance of rubbing one object against another
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disagreement or conflict; discord
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phonetics the hissing element of a speech sound, such as a fricative
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perfumed alcohol used on the hair to stimulate the scalp
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A force on objects or substances in contact with each other that resists motion of the objects or substances relative to each other.
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◆ Static friction arises between two objects that are not in motion with respect to each other, as for example between a cement block and a wooden floor. It increases to counterbalance forces that would move the objects, up to a certain maximum level of force, at which point the objects will begin moving. It is measured as the maximum force the bodies will sustain before motion occurs.
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◆ Kinetic friction arises between bodies that are in motion with respect to each other, as for example the force that works against sliding a cement block along a wooden floor. Between two hard surfaces, the kinetic friction is usually somewhat lower than the static friction, meaning that more force is required to set the objects in motion than to keep them in motion.
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See also drag
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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interfrictionnoun
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nonfrictionnoun
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self-frictionnoun
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frictionaladjective
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frictionlessadjective
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frictionlesslyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of friction
First recorded in 1575–85; from Latin frictiōn-, stem of frictiō “a rubbing,” from frict(us) “rubbed” (past participle of fricāre “to rub”) + -iō -ion
Explanation
When one thing rubs and grates against another, it causes friction. That can include two clashing personalities or simply a match striking the matchbox and causing a spark. A form of resistance, friction is caused by a chafing movement between two or more objects. In the 18th century, friction meant specifically a “resistance to motion,” but a few decades later grew to also describe disagreement or conflict. The friction between the brakes and your tires helps stop your car when you're going too fast. Not speeding in the first place can help avoid friction between you and the traffic police.
Vocabulary lists containing friction
Word Generation Science - Energy
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Force and Motion (Mechanics) - Middle School
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Force and Motion (Mechanics) - Introductory
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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.
See Examples For:
More recently, researchers have found them in materials that also support more complicated forms of collective electron behavior, including magnetism and superconductivity, in which electrons pair together and move through a material without friction.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 20, 2026
A senior role in the legal profession, he said, might have blinded him to the everyday friction of legal workflows.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
According to Twisha's parental family, the biggest point of friction between her and her in-laws came in April after she became pregnant.
From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026
Over that time you also become like a married couple — there’s friction and you fight but that brings out a better product.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
Because the arms were curved, they turned the earth away from the blade, which both reduced friction and more effectively plowed the soil.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
Moreover, AstraZeneca would likely need to navigate the political aspect of the deal to reduce frictions, they add.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026
The fines come just days before the first anniversary of a tariff deal struck between Washington and Brussels that eased trade frictions.
From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026
Sir Keir had wanted to seal a deal to row back many of the post-Brexit frictions on food and farm trade that have impacted the cross-Channel trade flows.
From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2026
The major disagreements between the two sides remain unresolved and military frictions near the strait are stoking geopolitical risk premiums in markets, Guoxin Futures analysts say in a note.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 1, 2026
Through a posting on a school librarians’ Web site she sought out family reunions, where she imagined she would encounter interesting frictions between prosperous siblings and relatives still mired at the bottom.
From "Class Matters" by The New York Times
Definitions 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.
