friendship
High frequency, common word.Neutral to formal; universally used across all registers.
Definition
Meaning
A relationship between two or more people who share mutual affection, trust, and support.
The state or condition of being friends; can also refer to an instance or expression of friendly feeling, or an association or alliance between groups, organizations, or countries.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a degree of emotional closeness, loyalty, and mutual goodwill that goes beyond mere acquaintance. It is often contrasted with 'acquaintanceship'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or grammatical differences. The concept and its linguistic behaviour are identical.
Connotations
Equally strong positive connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
friendship with someonefriendship between A and Bfriendship of [quality]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A friend in need is a friend indeed.”
- “Strike up a friendship.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe professional alliances or networking relationships, e.g., 'a friendship between the two CEOs facilitated the merger.'
Academic
Used in sociological, psychological, or philosophical discourse about human relationships.
Everyday
The most common context, referring to personal relationships.
Technical
Rare in highly technical contexts unless in specific fields like social network analysis.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They friended each other on social media, but true friendship takes more time.
- He was befriended by a local family.
American English
- They friended each other online, hoping to build a friendship.
- The program helps students befriend newcomers.
adverb
British English
- She smiled at him in a friendly manner.
- He waved to us very friendly.
American English
- The dog approached us friendly and without barking.
- He greeted everyone in a friendly way.
adjective
British English
- Their friendly rivalry spurred them both on to greater success.
- She gave me a friendly piece of advice.
American English
- He has a very friendly demeanour with all his coworkers.
- We received a friendly welcome from the neighbours.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I have a good friendship with my neighbour.
- Friendship is important.
- Their friendship started at university and has lasted for twenty years.
- He values her friendship above all else.
- Despite the fierce competition, a genuine friendship developed between the two athletes.
- The treaty was more than a political agreement; it symbolised a lasting friendship between the nations.
- The novel explores the intricate dynamics of friendship and betrayal within a close-knit community.
- Their friendship, forged in adversity, withstood the test of time and geographical separation.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'friend' + 'ship' – a ship that carries friends through life's journey.
Conceptual Metaphor
FRIENDSHIP IS A JOURNEY / FRIENDSHIP IS A BOND / FRIENDSHIP IS A VALUABLE COMMODITY.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with mere 'знакомство' (acquaintance). 'Friendship' implies greater depth.
- The Russian word 'дружба' is a very close equivalent, but be aware of collocational differences.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'friendship' as a countable noun for a single friend (incorrect: *'He is a good friendship.' correct: 'He is a good friend.')
- Misspelling as 'freindship'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a typical characteristic of friendship?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is primarily uncountable when referring to the abstract concept or state (e.g., 'Friendship is precious'). It can be countable when referring to specific instances or relationships (e.g., 'They formed several lasting friendships').
'Friendship' implies a deeper emotional bond, mutual liking, and personal investment. 'Companionship' is broader and can refer simply to the pleasant state of being with someone, without the same depth of personal affection.
Yes, it is commonly used in diplomatic and political contexts to describe a state of mutual goodwill and alliance between nations (e.g., 'a treaty of friendship and cooperation').
The direct adjective is 'friendly'. There is also the less common 'friendship' used attributively (e.g., 'friendship bracelet', 'friendship group').
Collections
Part of a collection
Relationships
B1 · 49 words · Vocabulary for interpersonal and social connections.