Definition of goodwill
1a : a kindly feeling of approval and support : benevolent interest or concern people of goodwillb (1) : the favor or advantage that a business has acquired especially through its brands and its good reputation (2) : the value of projected earnings increases of a business especially as part of its purchase price (3) : the excess of the purchase price of a company over its book value which represents the value of goodwill as an intangible asset for accounting purposes
2a : cheerful consent accepted the terms of the contract with goodwillb : willing effort
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Examples of goodwill in a Sentence
She has goodwill toward all her coworkers.
They allowed him to keep the extra money as a gesture of goodwill.
Recent Examples of goodwill from the Web
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The move will lead to the isolation of the Trump administration and further corrode international goodwill towards America.
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Principal Carol Lesser says Gunther has become something of a goodwill mascot for everyone at school, including her.
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He's also built up a lot of goodwill among Ohio Democrats in recent years by attending fundraisers for local parties around the state - especially in smaller counties.
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These virtues can help not only Catholics and Christians, but all people of goodwill who seek unity.
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If reports of the initiative are accurate, it would likely be intended as a gesture of goodwill to Moscow, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
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This time, though, Smith has taken on more of a goodwill ambassador role on the Huskies' home course.
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Rather than relying on corporate goodwill, however, both Conlee and Pippin urged people to support the Great Ape Protection Act and Cost Savings Act.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'goodwill'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of goodwill
before 12th century
GOODWILL Defined for English Language Learners
goodwill
playDefinition of goodwill for English Language Learners
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: a kind, helpful, or friendly feeling or attitude
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business : the amount of value that a company's good reputation adds to its overall value
GOODWILL Defined for Kids
goodwill
playDefinition of goodwill for Students
: kind feelings or attitude
Law Dictionary
goodwill
playLegal Definition of goodwill
1 : an intangible asset that is made up of the favor or prestige which a business has acquired beyond the mere value of what it sells due to the personality or experience of those conducting it, their reputation for skill or dependability, the business's location, or any other circumstance incidental to the business that tends to draw and retain customers
2a : the value of projected increases in the earnings of a business especially as part of its purchase price b : the excess of the purchase price of a business above the value assigned for tax purposes to its other net assets
Additional Notes on goodwill
The Internal Revenue Code requires the purchaser of a business to allocate the purchase price among the various types of assets. Frequently the purchase price is greater than the sum of the values of the individual assets. The excess is labeled goodwill. Because of its indefinite life, goodwill is not amortizable as an asset. The purchaser will therefore usually try to keep the allocation to goodwill as small as possible.
Learn More about goodwill
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See words that rhyme with goodwill Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for goodwill Spanish Central: Translation of goodwill Nglish: Translation of goodwill for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of goodwill for Arabic speakers
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