goodwill

Or good will

[good-wil]

noun

1. friendly disposition; benevolence; kindness.

   Synonyms: friendliness

2. cheerful acquiescence or consent.

3. Commerce.,  an intangible, saleable asset arising from the reputation of a business and its relations with its customers, distinct from the value of its stock and other tangible assets.

goodwill

/ ˌɡʊdˈwɪl /

noun

1. a feeling of benevolence, approval, and kindly interest

2. (modifier) resulting from, showing, or designed to show goodwill

   the government sent a goodwill mission to Moscow

   a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF

3. willingness or acquiescence

4. accounting an intangible asset taken into account in assessing the value of an enterprise and reflecting its commercial reputation, customer connections, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of goodwill¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English gōd willa. See good, will ²

Synonym Study

See favor.

Example Sentences

“But what needs to happen is a security framework that will guarantee that we have good intentions, goodwill.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

They materialize in the kitchen year after year, radiating earnest goodwill, and yet somehow leave a trail of small calamities in their wake.

Read more on Salon

The ship, which is used to teach cadets about traditional navigation techniques, visits foreign ports on goodwill voyages.

Read more on Barron's

“If they want to drain all the momentum and goodwill they’ve gained coming out of Tuesday night,” he wrote, “I can think of no better way than caving in a fight they’re winning.”

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The score requires a monster orchestra with a blockbuster brass section and an audience capable of patience and goodwill.

Read more on Los Angeles Times