goodwill

or good will

[ good-wil ]

/ ˈgʊdˈwɪl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR goodwill ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

friendly disposition; benevolence; kindness.

cheerful acquiescence or consent.

Commerce. an intangible, salable 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.

Nearby words

goods train, goods wagon, goods yard, goodspeed, goodwife, goodwill, goodwilly, goodwin sands, goodwood, goody, goody two shoes

Origin of goodwill

before 900; Middle English; Old English gōd willa. See good, will²

SYNONYMS FOR goodwill

1 friendliness. See favor.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR goodwill ON THESAURUS.COM

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for goodwill

The company would continue to refund these goodwill refunds.
The Insane $11 Billion Scam at Retailers’ Return Desks|M.L. Nestel|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
After all, freeing hostages as goodwill gestures—without a guarantee of some benefit—is not the way the Kim family operates.
Why North Korea Released Two Americans|Gordon G. Chang|November 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Eventually, it was gifted to Czar Peter the Great as a token of goodwill between the Germans and Russians.
The Biggest Art Heist of WWII is Still Unsolved||October 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As with a new president, there will likely be a short window of goodwill in which to act.
What the GOP Will Do If It Wins Congress|Stuart Stevens|October 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Yet the implementation of the action plan relies heavily on the goodwill and partnership of the very governments in question.
Forest Whitaker’s New Cause: Child Soldiers|Anna Therese Day|July 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
More presents were made to them, to show the goodwill of the strangers, and their desire to continue on friendly terms.
Captain Cook|W.H.G. Kingston
The word of good tidings began with "peace on earth, goodwill towards men."
The Expositor's Bible: The Epistles of St. Peter|J. Rawson Lumby
His sterling worth is widely acknowledged and he has the confidence and goodwill of all with whom he has been associated.
Lyman's History of old Walla Walla County, Vol. 1 (of 2)|William Denison Lyman
She received Quentin Dick, to whom she was well known, with a mixture of goodwill and quiet dignity.
Hunted and Harried|R.M. Ballantyne
With him goodwill really plays a less important part than with Kant, being not an end in itself, but a means towards an end.
History of Modern Philosophy|Alfred William Benn

British Dictionary definitions for goodwill

goodwill

/ (ˌɡʊdˈwɪl) /

noun

a feeling of benevolence, approval, and kindly interest

(modifier) resulting from, showing, or designed to show goodwillthe government sent a goodwill mission to Moscow; a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF

willingness or acquiescence

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012