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:
He said Simms did the right thing by not betraying his friendship with Shanahan.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
Pleading with you until you agreed, even though she is sick, was not the correct way to approach your friendship.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026
This unlikely friendship has created something of a fan base in the wrestling world.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
Alexandra Friedman, a Seattle-based friendship and relationship coach, thinks it’s OK to use AI to scaffold an uncomfortable conversation but not to lean on it throughout.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
NYU might have been manageable for their friendship, but Washington Heights was basically Canada, as far as Boaz was concerned.
From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny
"His confidence has really increased and he seems to be sort of developing some really lovely friendships with the other volunteers," she said.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
A spokesman for the Lutheran Church said: “Sunday creates space for family, friendships, neighbors and volunteering.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026
Beverley Thom, who organised those celebrations, said the connections and friendships formed more than 80 years ago continued to grow to this day.
From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026
“This decision has not been easy. For decades, Fiesta Village has been a place where families gathered, friendships grew and memories were made,” the company said in the statement.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026
During the months that we had spent together, my age-mates and I had formed lifelong friendships.
From "Facing the Lion" by Joseph Lemasolai Lekuton and Herman Viola
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.
