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.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing friendship

Beowulf vocabulary

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

"Encounter"

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Relationships

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!

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 reason China chose Hungary over Poland or Czechia was the friendship factor,” says Agnes Szunomar, who heads the Institute of Global Studies at Corvinus University of Budapest.

From Barron's • Apr. 17, 2026

Once Hana gets involved in her illicit money-making scheme, the narrative changes gear, tension levels are cranked up and what started out as a straightforward study of friendship turns into a fast-paced story of survival.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

The unlikely friendship between the deputy prime minister and the vice-president began when Lammy was an opposition MP and Vance had just been elected to the US Senate.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

Adele Bertei has been writing about her life since 2013’s “Peter and the Wolves,” about her friendship with Cleveland punk legend Peter Laughner and their early years in the Cleveland punk scene.

From Salon • Apr. 14, 2026

But he’s not a quality candidate for friendship.

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

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