companion

1 of 3

noun (1)

com·​pan·​ion kəm-ˈpan-yən How to pronounce companion (audio)
plural companions
often attributive
1
: one that accompanies another : comrade, associate
traveling companions
also : one that keeps company with another
his longtime companion
2
obsolete : rascal
3
a
: one that is closely connected with something similar
The book is a companion to the television series with the same title.
b
: one employed to live with and serve another
We hired a companion for our elderly mother.
4
: a celestial body that appears close to another but that may or may not be associated with it in space
5
: a book, manual, etc., that provides information or advice about a particular subject
a companion to French New Wave cinema
used in titles
The Gardener's Companion

companion

2 of 3

verb

companioned; companioning; companions

transitive verb

: accompany
Anne sat long at her window that night companioned by a glad content.Lucy Maud Montgomery

intransitive verb

: to keep company (see company entry 1 sense 1a)
fellows that he'd companioned with many years ago

companion

3 of 3

noun (2)

1
: a hood covering at the top of a companionway
2

Did you know?

History of Companion

You may be a companion to someone without eating with that person, but etymologically you are sharing a meal with them. The word companion ultimately comes from the Latin com- (“with”) and panis (“bread, food”). The ingestible aspect of this word is reminiscent of symposium, which may be traced to the Greek word sympinein, meaning “to drink together.” But just as you may be a companion to someone without eating, you may also attend a symposium without drinking.

Examples of companion in a Sentence

Verb movie heroes are often companioned by wisecracking sidekicks
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Inflection will continue as an independent company but shelve its Pi chatbot—which was designed to be an empathetic companion to users—and focus instead on selling AI solutions to business customers. Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2024 As pictured in new art from the series above, Millie Gibson stars alongside Gatwa as his companion, Ruby Sunday. Ellise Shafer, Variety, 15 Mar. 2024 This drop-off follows a boom period for the company during the pandemic as more people adopted pets as companions. Natallie Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2024 To start, there’s no companion bill yet, so the legislation is barely at the start line in that chamber. Lauren Feiner, The Verge, 13 Mar. 2024 Along the way, Huck has a necessary moral awakening as his Black companion teaches him, directly and indirectly, about the evils of prejudice. Tyler Austin Harper, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2024 The companion was able to locate Burks quickly by turning on his transceiver, the Baker County Sheriff's Office said. CBS News, 12 Mar. 2024 Besides his son Jonathan, a labor lawyer, Dr. Hiatt is survived by a daughter, Deborah Hiatt, an artist; a brother, Arnold; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and his longtime companion, Penny Janeway. Trip Gabriel, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024 Ashe’s Faye skin transforms her robot companion (and ultimate ability) B.O.B. into Faye’s ship, the Redtail. Ash Parrish, The Verge, 7 Mar. 2024
Verb
Muti has companioned with many composers throughout his life, but maybe especially with Mozart and Verdi. Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 14 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'companion.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1) and Verb

Middle English compainoun, from Anglo-French cumpaing, cumpaignun, from Late Latin companion-, companio, from Latin com- + panis bread, food — more at food

Noun (2)

by folk etymology from Dutch kampanje poop deck

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1622, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun (2)

1762, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of companion was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near companion

Cite this Entry

“Companion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/companion. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

companion

1 of 2 noun
com·​pan·​ion kəm-ˈpan-yən How to pronounce companion (audio)
1
: one that often accompanies another : comrade
2
a
: one of a pair of matching things
b
: a person employed to live with and serve another

companion

2 of 2 noun
Etymology

Noun

Middle English compainoun "companion," from early French cumpaignun (same meaning), from Latin companion-, companio "companion," literally, "one who eats with another," from com- "with, together" and panis "food, bread" — related to accompany, company, pantry

More from Merriam-Webster on companion

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