best friend: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very HighInformal to Neutral (common in everyday speech; can appear in semi-formal contexts like personal statements, but rarely in highly formal or legal documents).
Quick answer
What does “best friend” mean?
The single closest and most trusted friend one has, typically implying deep mutual affection, loyalty, and long-standing intimacy.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The single closest and most trusted friend one has, typically implying deep mutual affection, loyalty, and long-standing intimacy.
Can be applied metaphorically to objects, animals, or abstract concepts that provide constant comfort, support, or reliability (e.g., a favourite book). Sometimes used in marketing to describe an ideal product.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Usage is identical in both varieties. Spelling follows respective conventions (e.g., 'favourite' vs. 'favorite' when used adjectivally).
Connotations
Equally strong and positive in both cultures. Slightly more likely to be used ironically or casually in some American English contexts (e.g., 'Hey, best friend!' to a close acquaintance in the moment).
Frequency
Extremely high and virtually identical frequency in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “best friend” in a Sentence
[possessive pronoun] + best friendbest friend + of + [possessive pronoun]best friend + to + [someone]be/remain/stay + best friendsVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “best friend” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They've been best-friending each other since university.
- (Note: 'to best-friend' is very informal and non-standard)
American English
- She basically best-friended me on the first day of camp.
adverb
British English
- They get on best-friendly, sharing all their secrets.
- (Note: highly informal and rare)
American English
- They were hanging out best-friend close.
adjective
British English
- He has a best-friend vibe that makes him easy to talk to.
- Their best-friend bond was obvious to everyone.
American English
- It was a real best-friend moment when she drove three hours to help me.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare and informal; used metaphorically, e.g., 'This software is a project manager's best friend.'
Academic
Very rare in formal writing; might appear in qualitative social research on friendships or developmental psychology.
Everyday
Extremely common in personal conversation, social media, and narratives.
Technical
Not used in technical senses outside of possible branding (e.g., a product name).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “best friend”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “best friend”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “best friend”
- Using it plurally without change: 'They are my best friend' (incorrect) vs. 'They are my best friends' (correct if referring to multiple people).
- Overusing in casual contexts, devaluing the term.
- Misspelling as 'bestfriend' (should be two words).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Traditionally, 'best' implies a single top position. However, in modern usage, people often say they have two or three 'best friends', meaning a very small, top-tier group. Some purists object to this.
A 'close friend' is someone you share a strong bond with. A 'best friend' is typically your closest friend among all close friends, often with a longer or more intimate history and a higher degree of trust and priority.
Yes, BFF is an acronym for 'Best Friends Forever'. It is more informal, strongly associated with teen culture and texting, and emphasises the permanence of the bond.
Yes, it is increasingly common to refer to a spouse, sibling, or parent as one's 'best friend' to emphasise the closeness and companionship within that relationship, e.g., 'My husband is also my best friend.'
The single closest and most trusted friend one has, typically implying deep mutual affection, loyalty, and long-standing intimacy.
Best friend is usually informal to neutral (common in everyday speech; can appear in semi-formal contexts like personal statements, but rarely in highly formal or legal documents). in register.
Best friend: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbest ˈfrend/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbest ˈfrend/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A friend in need is a friend indeed (related concept)”
- “Thick as thieves (describes the closeness)”
- “Through thick and thin (describes the loyalty)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the word 'BEST' as an acronym: Believes in you, Ever-present, Shares everything, Trusts completely.
Conceptual Metaphor
FRIENDSHIP IS A JOURNEY ('We've been best friends all the way'), A BOND ('an unbreakable bond'), A SHELTER ('my safe place'), A TREASURE ('she's a gem').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'best friend' LEAST likely to be used formally?