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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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 former Labour minister was then sacked as US ambassador in September last year, after new details emerged about the extent of his friendship with Epstein.

From BBC • Apr. 28, 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

Taylor adapts to the volatile situation as he always has, serving as the unthreatening beta, eventually earning Dee’s trust and friendship.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026

Simon Armitage’s translation of the Sumerian epic highlights the friendship between its two heroes and the terrible grief of mortality.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

I think hard, only to start blanking on any and all moments of genuine friendship between me and Autumn.

From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer

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