English Reference
Adjective

amicable

adj.
C1 Advanced US /ˈæmɪkəbəɫ/ UK /ˈæmɪkəbəl/ am·i·ca·ble

adj.friendly and polite, especially when people are ending a relationship or a business deal. You use this to describe a situation where everyone is happy and there are no arguments.

adj.characterised by friendliness and a lack of hostility; friendly. Often describes the resolution of a dispute or the termination of a professional relationship.


SIMPLE

They reached an amicable agreement after a long meeting.

CONTEXTUAL

The two companies reached an amicable settlement to avoid a costly and public legal battle.

COMPLEX

Despite their fundamental disagreements on policy, the former colleagues maintained an amicable relationship, often meeting for lunch to discuss their shared history in the industry.

The good news is, siblings who take the legal route more often than not reach an amicable solution.

BBC News· 30 Aug 2026

They have two children, who are 15 and 19, and appear to be the platonic ideal of amicable divorcees.

The Guardian· 30 Aug 2026

From Middle English amicable (“agreeable; pleasant”), from Late Latin amīcābilis (“friendly”). Doublet of amiable.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin la-lat amīcābilis
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated