friendship

noun

friend·​ship ˈfren(d)-ˌship How to pronounce friendship (audio)
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In With Love, Markle is joined by celebrity friends like Roy Choi, Mindy Kaling, and Alice Waters, who share personal tips and tricks, as Markle showcases the joys of cooking, gardening, entertaining, and friendship. Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 4 Mar. 2025 In the face of the destruction that occurs and the lives lost, Adra and Abraham form an unexpected friendship. Matt Minton, Variety, 3 Mar. 2025 So will Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood, which finds the director — once an indie interloper, now an industry veteran — re-creating the Los Angeles of his youth and using a story of a friendship, aging, and insecurity to reflect on a moment of tremendous change in film history. Keith Phipps, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2025 The musical explores the power of friendship, acceptance and standing up for what is right, set to a soundtrack of songs performed by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for friendship

Word History

Etymology

see friend entry 1

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of friendship was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Friendship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/friendship. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

friendship

noun
friend·​ship ˈfren(d)-ˌship How to pronounce friendship (audio)
: the state of being friends

More from Merriam-Webster on friendship

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