matey

adjective

mat·​ey ˈmā-tē 

chiefly British

: companionable

mateyness

ˈmā-tē-nəs 

noun chiefly British

Synonyms

• amicable
• bonhomous
• buddy-buddy
• chummy
• collegial
• companionable
• comradely
• cordial
• friendly
• genial
• hail-fellow
• hail-fellow-well-met
• hearty
• neighborly
• palsy
• palsy-walsy [slang]
• warm
• warmhearted

Examples of matey in a Sentence

a boss who is matey with his staff

the pub keeper adopted a matey tone with me, as if he were my dearest chum

Word History

First Known Use

1915, in the meaning defined above