acquaintance
n.-
1 a person you know (n.) B1 Intermediatesomeone you know slightly, but who is not a close friend.
a person with whom one is acquainted but who is not a member of one's intimate social circle.
ExampleHe is not a close friend, just a business acquaintance I met at a conference.
ExampleWhile she has a vast network of professional acquaintances, she relies on a very small group of lifelong friends for personal support.
UsageCountable noun.
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2 the state of knowing someone (n.) B2 Upper Intermediatethe state of knowing a person, usually not very well.
the state of being acquainted with a person; often implies a level of familiarity that falls short of true friendship.
ExampleOur acquaintance began when we worked in the same office ten years ago.
ExampleTheir brief acquaintance during the summer months was enough to establish a mutual respect that lasted throughout their careers.
UsageUncountable noun; often used with the preposition 'with'.
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3 knowledge of a subject (n.) C1 Advanced Formalknowledge or experience of a particular subject or thing.
personal knowledge or familiarity with a specific subject, field, or object.
ExampleThe job requires a good acquaintance with modern computer systems.
ExampleThe professor's thorough acquaintance with medieval manuscripts allowed him to spot the forgery almost immediately.
UsageUsually follows the pattern 'acquaintance with'.
- unfamiliarity
From Middle English aqueyntaunce, from Anglo-Norman aquaintaunce, aqueintance, Old French acointance (“friendship, familiarity”), from Old French acointier (“to acquaint”). Compare French accointance. Morphologically acquaint + -ance.