What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
semiacquaintance
Example
I saw a semiacquaintance at the party last night, but we didn't really talk. [semiacquaintance: noun]
Example
She's just a semiacquaintance, so I don't know much about her. [semiacquaintance: adjective]
acquaintance
Example
He's an old acquaintance from college that I ran into at the store. [acquaintance: noun]
Example
I'm not close friends with her, but we're friendly acquaintances. [acquaintance: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Acquaintance is a more common word than semiacquaintance and is used more frequently in everyday language.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between semiacquaintance and acquaintance?
Both semiacquaintance and acquaintance can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but acquaintance is more versatile and can be used in a wider range of formality levels.
