friendship

noun

friend·​ship ˈfren(d)-ˌship 

1

: the state of being friends

They have a long-standing friendship.

2

: the quality or state of being friendly : friendliness

the friendship shown him by his coworkers

3

obsolete : aid

Synonyms of friendship

• generosity
• brotherhood
• amity
• cordiality
• goodwill
• friendliness
• neighborliness
• kindness
• good-fellowship
• benevolence
• fellowship
• kindliness
• community
• companionship

Examples of friendship in a Sentence

a friendship between two countries

They have enjoyed many years of friendship.

He was encouraged by the friendship his coworkers showed him.

Recent Examples on the Web

Shamea and Porsha’s passive back-and-forth is a fascinating take on how icing someone out after a friendship falls apart can play out on a show like The Real Housewives. — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 29 June 2026

There's a whole parallel constellation of friendships and relationships going on. — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 29 June 2026

This year, Nike issued a France jersey in seafoam green to honor the Statue of Liberty and the longtime Franco-American friendship, a departure for a national team known as les Bleus. — Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 29 June 2026

Thank you for the friendship bracelets and keepsakes, the warm welcomes, the cheers, the conversations. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 29 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

see friend entry 1

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing friendship

• betray someone's friendship

Kids Definition

friendship

noun

friend·​ship ˈfren(d)-ˌship 

: the state of being friends