Synonyms

friendship

American

[frend-ship] / ˈfrɛnd ʃɪp /

noun

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

prefriendship noun

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.

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Vocabulary lists containing friendship

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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.

The author Andrew J. Graff who wrote “Raft of Stars,” we struck up a friendship.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 27, 2026

But Tertitskiy said he doubted that the friendship would live long beyond the Ukraine war, saying it was "driven almost exclusively by the ongoing invasion".

From Barron's • Apr. 27, 2026

The septuagenarian governor has managed to survive sundry political scandals, Mexican observers say, because of a key fact: His long-time friendship with ex-President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Sheinbaum’s predecessor and mentor.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 26, 2026

And Streeting, the health secretary, is trying to shake off his connection and previous friendship with Lord Mandelson.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026

You may have noticed, right up until Max and Josie encountered that first awful video, I showed you only good moments from their friendship.

From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023