# friendship

/ˈfɹɛndʃɪp/ (US) · /fɹˈɛndʃɪp/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/friendship
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. the state of being friends

noun · CEFR A2

the feeling or state of being friends with someone.

For teachers: the abstract state or condition of being friends; often used in an uncountable sense to describe the concept of mutual support.

- Their friendship grew stronger over the years they spent working together.
- True friendship is often forged in the face of shared adversity, where mutual reliance becomes a necessity rather than a choice.

Usage: Often used as an uncountable noun when referring to the general concept.

### 2. a specific relationship

noun · CEFR A2

a particular relationship you have with a specific friend.

For teachers: a specific, countable relationship between two or more individuals characterized by mutual affection.

- She formed many close friendships during her first year at university.
- The diplomat maintained several lifelong friendships with colleagues from across the globe, despite their differing political views.

Usage: Used as a countable noun when referring to individual connections.

### 3. goodwill between groups

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

friendly feelings between different countries or groups of people.

For teachers: a state of goodwill or cooperation between nations, organisations, or large groups.

- The festival was organized to promote friendship between the two cities.
- The treaty was signed as a gesture of enduring friendship, intended to stabilise the border regions after decades of intermittent conflict.

## Examples

- Their friendship began when they were both in primary school.
- Maintaining a long-distance friendship requires regular communication and a lot of effort from both people.
- The political alliance eventually blossomed into a genuine personal friendship that lasted long after both leaders had retired from public life.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.