intimacy
Americannoun
-
the state of being intimate.
-
a close, familiar, and usually affectionate or loving personal relationship with another person or group.
- Synonyms:
- affection, warmth, familiarity, closeness
-
a close association with or detailed knowledge or deep understanding of a place, subject, period of history, etc..
an intimacy with Japan.
-
an act or expression serving as a token of familiarity, affection, or the like.
to allow the intimacy of using first names.
-
an amorously familiar act; liberty.
-
sexual intercourse.
-
the quality of being comfortable, warm, or familiar.
the intimacy of the room.
-
privacy, especially as suitable to the telling of a secret.
in the intimacy of his studio.
noun
-
close or warm friendship or understanding; personal relationship
-
euphemistic (often plural) sexual relations
Etymology
Origin of intimacy
First recorded in 1635–45; intim(ate) 1 + -acy
Explanation
Intimacy is closeness with another person, like the intimacy that develops between friends as you tell one another your life stories and all your secrets and dreams for the future. The noun intimacy comes from the Latin word intimare, which means “impress,” or “make familiar,” which comes from the Latin intimus, meaning “inmost.” Intimacy is a close, family-like connection. There is another kind of intimacy — physical intimacy, which comes from having a sexual relationship, which, one hopes, fosters the other kind of intimacy as well.
Vocabulary lists containing intimacy
Power Suffix: -acy
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!
A Thousand Splendid Suns
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!
"Mother Tongue" by Amy Tan
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.
That level of intimacy and emotional support, a feature of many close friendships, is often what sets women’s friendships apart.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 23, 2026
Here, she discusses her physical and mental transformation, the importance of intimacy and the candy joy of a Nerds Gummy Cluster.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026
"If broadcasters are going to make programmes centred on intimacy, they have to equally centre safeguarding and care," she said.
From BBC • May 19, 2026
“Rather than wanting intimacy in a romantic capacity, just really wanting to be grounded and connected with someone… and finding something much more visceral and much richer.”
From Salon • May 11, 2026
They had begun to talk to each other with more freedom and intimacy.
From "And Then There Were None" by Agatha Christie
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.
