What does "friendship" mean?
The condition of being friends.
Friendship
/ˈfɹɛn(d)ʃɪp/ name, noun
name, noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The condition of being friends.
- Grammar: friendship is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: amity, fellowship, accord, affection.
- Useful contrasts: friendless, mutual repulsion, acrimony.
- Usage evidence: I guess my view on friendship is pretty bleak because I've never really had to rely on anyone for anything.
How to use "friendship"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "friendship" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "friendship" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "friendship" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "friendship" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "friendship" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "amity" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "friendship", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The condition of being friends. uncountable
"But (as the Poet ſaith) Malè ſarta gratia, nequicquam coit, & reſcinditur: Friendſhip, that is but euill peeced, will not ioine cloſe, but falleth aſunder againe:"
- 2 the state of being friends (or friendly) wordnet
- 3 A friendly relationship, or a relationship as friends. countable
"“They’re cuddling by the fire, they’re going on trips together, they’re introducing their friends to their family, but they’re very clear that those are friendships,” Stinson said. “It really makes me think about the definitions that we have about friendship and romance, and how those things differ, and I just like how messy it all is.”"
- 4 Good will. uncountable
Proper Noun
- 1 A number of places in the United States:; A town in Hot Spring County, Arkansas.
- 2 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Brown Township, Ripley County, Indiana.
- 3 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Caldwell County, Kentucky.
- 4 A number of places in the United States:; A town in Knox County, Maine.
- 5 A number of places in the United States:; A census-designated place in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.
Show 17 more definitions
- 6 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Worcester County, Maryland.
- 7 A number of places in the United States:; A township in Emmet County, Michigan.
- 8 A number of places in the United States:; A township in Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota.
- 9 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Upper Pittsgrove Township, Salem County, New Jersey.
- 10 A number of places in the United States:; A town and census-designated place therein, in Allegany County, New York.
- 11 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Cherokee County, North Carolina.
- 12 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Wake County, North Carolina.
- 13 A number of places in the United States:; A census-designated place in Nile Township, Scioto County, Ohio.
- 14 A number of places in the United States:; A small town in Jackson County, Oklahoma.
- 15 A number of places in the United States:; A neighbourhood in east Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
- 16 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Marion County, South Carolina.
- 17 A number of places in the United States:; A minor city in Crockett County, Tennessee.
- 18 A number of places in the United States:; A town in Trinity County, Texas.
- 19 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Washington County, Virginia.
- 20 A number of places in the United States:; A town in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin.
- 21 A number of places in the United States:; A village, the county seat of Adams County, Wisconsin.
- 22 A town in Coronie District, Suriname.
Antonyms
Example
"I guess my view on friendship is pretty bleak because I've never really had to rely on anyone for anything."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "friendship"?
Common synonyms include: amity, fellowship, accord, affection, affection, affinity.
How do you use "friendship" in a sentence?
I guess my view on friendship is pretty bleak because I've never really had to rely on anyone for anything.
How do you pronounce "friendship"?
Pronounced /ˈfɹɛn(d)ʃɪp/.
Etymology
From Middle English frendshipe, from Old English frēondsċiepe, from Proto-West Germanic *friundskapi. Equivalent to friend + -ship.