acquaintance Definition
a person one knows slightly, but who is not a close friend.
Using acquaintance: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "acquaintance" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
I have many acquaintances from work.
Example
She is just an acquaintance, I don't know her well.
Example
He made several new acquaintances at the conference.
acquaintance Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with acquaintance
a person who is recognized by sight but with whom one has no personal relationship
Example
I have a nodding acquaintance with my neighbor, but we've never really talked.
social acquaintance
a person one knows through social events or activities
Example
I met him through a social acquaintance and we hit it off right away.
casual acquaintance
a person one knows only slightly or casually
Example
We're just casual acquaintances, we say hello when we see each other but that's about it.
Origins of acquaintance
from Old French 'acointier', meaning 'make known'
Summary: acquaintance in Brief
'Acquaintance' [əˈkweɪntəns] refers to a person one knows slightly, but who is not a close friend. It is often used to describe people one meets through work or social events, as in 'I have many acquaintances from work.' 'Acquaintance' can also be modified by phrases like 'nodding acquaintance,' which denotes a person who is recognized by sight but with whom one has no personal relationship. Synonyms include 'associate' and 'connection,' while antonyms include 'stranger' and 'enemy.'
