friendship
Americannoun
-
the state of being a friend; association as friends.
to value a person's friendship.
-
a friendly relation or intimacy.
- Synonyms:
- rapport, understanding, accord, harmony
-
friendly feeling or disposition.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of friendship
First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English frēondscipe, equivalent to friend + -ship
Explanation
Friendship is the state of being friends with someone. A good job, good health, and romantic love are important, but without real friendship, your life might not feel full. When we talk about friendship, we're often talking about the value of having friends, not just the fact of it. A book might explore the importance of friendship in a young girl's life. You might decide to stop working such long hours and spend more time developing your friendships, in an effort to lead a happier life. A deep friendship can last through many shifts and changes in life, as long as you write or call every now and then.
Vocabulary lists containing friendship
Beowulf vocabulary
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"Encounter"
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Relationships
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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:
Their ongoing creative alliance is the result of a genuine friendship between them that started in 2018 when Stillz was first hired as Bad Bunny’s tour photographer.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026
Prosecutor Tom Williams described Khan and Chowdhury's friendship as "important".
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026
In a world of questionable online content and polarising opinions, the two players' friendship is a welcome respite for many.
From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026
This is why friendship is often a product of something else: work, school, church, children, sports, errands, waiting rooms.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
Otherwise, it might be my last chance to help them repair their friendship.
From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila
"For me to hear that was just wonderful, because everyone is so different. And so many friendships have been made within that area."
From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026
The friendships were deeper then, Thomas remarked at a judicial conference this spring.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 2026
This is a show that pits real people against each other by requiring them to build friendships and trust while empowering a few to sow doubt and dissent by lying through their teeth.
From Salon ● Jun. 20, 2026
Singleton adds that in the chaos of fatherhood, friendships occasionally fall to the wayside.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 16, 2026
For friendships acquired by a price and not by greatness and nobility of spirit are purchased but are not owned, and at the proper time cannot be spent.
From "The Prince" by Niccolò Machiavelli
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.
