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
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.
The show explores middle-age desperation, loneliness and, notably, masculinity and male friendship.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026
Another tip-off for me about our friendship was that he never mentioned politics or religion.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026
In March, he hosted Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko in Pyongyang, where the two nations signed a friendship treaty.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026
While the two countries are quick to talk up their friendship, North Korea's commitment to its nuclear programme has been a thorn in the relationship.
From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026
And then too much time will pass, and I’ll start to worry that I ruined our friendship.
From "The Sea in Winter" by Christine Day
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.
