Word
amicable
Phoneticsam·i·ca·ble, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈæmɪkəbəɫ/
UK/ˈæmɪkəbəl/
Definition
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.
Examples
“They reached an amicable agreement after a long meeting.”
“The two companies reached an amicable settlement to avoid a costly and public legal battle.”
“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.”
Examples
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.”
Real-World Examples
“The good news is, siblings who take the legal route more often than not reach an amicable solution.” “They have two children, who are 15 and 19, and appear to be the platonic ideal of amicable divorcees.” Etymology
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.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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