A friendship is a relationship between two or more friends.
Giving advice when it's not called for is the quickest way to end a good friendship.
She struck up a close friendship with Desiree during the week of rehearsals. [+ with]
After seven years of friendship, she still couldn't tell when he was kidding.
2. uncountable noun
You use friendship to refer in a general way to the state of being friends, or the feelings that friends havefor each other.
...a hobby which led to a whole new world of friendship and adventure.
Synonyms: friendliness, affection, harmony, goodwill More Synonyms of friendship
3. singular noun [with poss]
If you have someone's friendship, they are your friend.
He enjoyed the friendship of George Washington.
Steve really values your friendship more than anything else.
4. variable noun
Friendship is a relationship between two countries in which they help and support each other.
...as president of a foundation that promotes friendship between Italy and America. [+ with/between]
They were reaching out the hand of friendship to their former adversaries.
Restoring ties with Israel would not affect Bulgaria's traditional friendships withother countries.
More Synonyms of friendship
friendship in American English
(ˈfrɛndˌʃɪp)
noun
1.
the state of being friends
2.
attachment between friends
3.
friendly feeling or attitude; friendliness
Word origin
ME frendship < OE freondscipe
COBUILD Collocations
friendship
deep friendship
female friendship
forge a friendship
genuine friendship
lasting friendship
lifelong friendship
maintain friendships
male friendship
unlikely friendship
Examples of 'friendship' in a sentence
friendship
Building a close friendship will be the best basis for a lasting relationship.
The Sun (2017)
Friendships help ambition and dreams you share turn into positive action.
The Sun (2016)
We already enjoy close co-operation and friendship.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But after a close friendship spanning 33 years it is impossible not to mourn her passing.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Our friendship is still good and I wonder whether we could have a future together as a proper couple.
The Sun (2016)
The moon focuses on friendship and good changes in a pal's working life have a lucky spin-off for you.
The Sun (2016)
You get really good friendships in there - I want her to have that.
The Sun (2016)
We have good friendships and similar habits.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
You have a gift for friendship and for helping people to be their best selves.
The Sun (2007)
You can repair family relationships and friendships damaged by misunderstanding.
The Sun (2013)
But neither wished to risk damaging a close friendship.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
There are also two proofs of friendship from our side.
Christianity Today (2000)
Yet the two of them forged a close friendship.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The trust and respect of friendship is gradually turning into love that will treat you well.
The Sun (2011)
Will friendship and trust transform your love future?
The Sun (2013)
This competitive streak can be the basis of lifelong friendship or lifelong rancour.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Yet here he was forgiving and forgetting in the cause of the club and his former friendship.
The Sun (2006)
We had always had a really close friendship.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Jupiter adds the fun and friendship a good relationship needs.
The Sun (2011)
This deepens friendships and helps you make good love choices.
The Sun (2009)
This applies both to family relationships and to friendships.
The Sun (2012)
The first is about an unlikely male friendship between two men thrown together by chance.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
There are hardships as well as kindness and friendship along the way.
The Sun (2013)
We have forged a wonderful friendship & will stay in touch.
The Sun (2011)
The rapport between the two men had long been cemented in an ongoing friendship of mutual respect.
John Fisher Tommy Cooper: Always Leave Them Laughing (2006)
They struck up an unlikely friendship.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Yes, he would seek peace and extend the hand of friendship around the world.
The Sun (2008)
Which of today's celebrities promises a passport into a similar world of artistic friendships and glamour?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They form an unlikely friendship - and more.
The Sun (2012)
Quotations
Friendship is a single soul dwelling in two bodiesAristotle
Friendship makes prosperity more brilliant, and lightens adversity by dividing and sharing itCiceroDe Amicitia
Friendship: a ship big enough to carry two in fair weather, but only one in foulAmbrose BierceThe Devil's Dictionary
In other languages
friendship
British English: friendship /ˈfrɛndʃɪp/ NOUN
A friendship is a relationship or state of being friends between two people who like each other.
Their friendship has lasted more than sixty years.
American English: friendship
Arabic: صَدَاقَة
Brazilian Portuguese: amizade
Chinese: 友谊
Croatian: prijateljstvo
Czech: přátelství
Danish: venskab
Dutch: vriendschap
European Spanish: amistad
Finnish: ystävyys
French: amitié
German: Freundschaft
Greek: φιλία
Italian: amicizia
Japanese: 友情
Korean: 우정
Norwegian: vennskap
Polish: przyjaźń
European Portuguese: amizade
Romanian: prietenie
Russian: дружба
Latin American Spanish: amistad
Swedish: vänskap
Thai: มิตรภาพ
Turkish: dostluk
Ukrainian: дружба
Vietnamese: tình bạn
All related terms of 'friendship'
deep friendship
A friendship is a relationship between two or more friends .
male friendship
A friendship is a relationship between two or more friends .
female friendship
A friendship is a relationship between two or more friends .
genuine friendship
A friendship is a relationship between two or more friends .
lasting friendship
A friendship is a relationship between two or more friends .
forge a friendship
A friendship is a relationship between two or more friends .
lifelong friendship
A friendship is a relationship between two or more friends .
unlikely friendship
A friendship is a relationship between two or more friends .
Chinese translation of 'friendship'
friendship
(ˈfrɛndʃɪp)
n
(c) (= relationship) 友情 (yǒuqíng) (种(種), zhǒng)
(u) (= state) 友爱(愛) (yǒu'ài)
1 (noun)
They struck up a close friendship.
Synonyms
attachment
I feel a strong attachment to my home town.
relationship
Money problems place great stress on close family relationships.
bond
the bond that linked them
alliance
an alliance between philanthropy and medicine
link
They hope to cement close links with Moscow.
association
The association between the two companies stretches back 30 years.
tie
She had family ties in France.
bromance (informal)
2 (noun)
a whole new world of friendship and adventure
Synonyms
friendliness
affection
harmony
a future in which humans live in harmony with nature
goodwill
I invited them to dinner as a gesture of goodwill.
intimacy
affinity
There is a natural affinity between the two.
familiarity
Close personal familiarity between councillors and staff can prove embarrassing.
closeness
rapport
fondness
a great fondness for children
companionship
concord
A climate of concord and tolerance prevails among the two communities.
benevolence
comradeship
amity (formal)
Over the past two decades the countries have lived in amity.
good-fellowship
Opposites
conflict,
hostility
,
hatred
,
resentment
,
strife
,
animosity
,
aversion
,
antagonism
,
antipathy
,
enmity
,
bad blood
,
unfriendliness
3 (noun)
He really values your friendship.
Synonyms
closeness
He experienced a lack of closeness to his parents during childhood.
love
Our love for each other has been increased by what we've been through together.
regard
I have a very high regard for him and what he has achieved.
affection
She thought of him with affection.
intimacy
a means of achieving intimacy with another person
fondness
I've always had a fondness for jewels.
companionship
He missed the companionship of friends of his own age.
comradeship
I missed the comradeship of army life.
Quotations
Friendship is a single soul dwelling in two bodies [Aristotle]Friendship makes prosperity more brilliant, and lightens adversity by dividing and sharing it [Cicero – De Amicitia]Friendship: a ship big enough to carry two in fair weather, but only one in foul [Ambrose Bierce – The Devil's Dictionary]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of affection
Definition
fondness or tenderness for a person or thing
She thought of him with affection.
Synonyms
fondness,
liking,
feeling,
love,
care,
desire,
passion,
warmth,
attachment,
goodwill,
devotion,
kindness,
inclination,
tenderness,
propensity,
friendliness,
amity (formal),
aroha (New Zealand)
in the sense of affinity
Definition
a feeling of closeness to and understanding of a person
There is a natural affinity between the two.
Synonyms
attraction,
liking,
leaning,
sympathy,
inclination,
rapport,
fondness,
partiality,
aroha (New Zealand)
in the sense of alliance
Definition
the state of being allied
an alliance between philanthropy and medicine
Synonyms
relationship,
association,
bond,
connection,
affinity,
rapport,
kinship
Synonyms of 'friendship'
friendship
Explore 'friendship' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of harmony
Definition
a state of peaceful agreement and cooperation
a future in which humans live in harmony with nature
Synonyms
accord,
order,
understanding,
peace,
agreement,
friendship,
unity,
sympathy,
consensus,
cooperation,
goodwill,
rapport,
conformity,
compatibility,
assent,
unanimity,
concord,
amity (formal),
amicability,
like-mindedness
in the sense of intimacy
Definition
close or warm friendship
a means of achieving intimacy with another person
Synonyms
familiarity,
closeness,
understanding,
confidence,
confidentiality,
fraternization
in the sense of link
Definition
an emotional or logical relationship between people or things
They hope to cement close links with Moscow.
Synonyms
relationship,
association,
tie,
bond,
connection,
attachment,
liaison,
affinity,
affiliation
in the sense of love
Definition
a deep feeling of sexual attraction
Our love for each other has been increased by what we've been through together.
Synonyms
passion,
liking,
regard,
friendship,
affection,
warmth,
attachment,
intimacy,
devotion,
tenderness,
fondness,
rapture,
adulation,
adoration,
infatuation,
ardour,
endearment,
aroha (New Zealand),
amity,
LUV
in the sense of regard
Definition
respect or affection
I have a very high regard for him and what he has achieved.
Synonyms
respect,
esteem,
deference,
store,
thought,
love,
concern,
care,
account,
note,
reputation,
honour,
consideration,
sympathy,
affection,
attachment,
repute
in the sense of relationship
Definition
the dealings and feelings that exist between people or groups
Money problems place great stress on close family relationships.