Friendship vs. Friend — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 4, 2023
Friendship refers to the bond or relationship between individuals, while a Friend is an individual with whom one shares such a bond.
Difference Between Friendship and Friend
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Friendship and Friend are words that often go hand in hand, describing the affectionate bond between individuals. While Friendship represents the nature and quality of the bond itself, a Friend is a person with whom this bond exists.
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Often, when we talk about Friendship, we delve into the feelings, trust, and mutual understanding that binds two or more people. A Friend, on the other hand, denotes one of those individuals in the mutual bond.
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The beauty of Friendship lies in its ability to grow and evolve over time, adjusting to life's ups and downs. Meanwhile, a Friend is a constant presence, the person who is by your side, nurturing and supporting this evolving bond.
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Friendship can exist in various degrees and can be of different types like platonic, familial, or romantic. However, each Friend plays a distinct role within these friendships, each contributing uniquely to the bond.
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It is essential to recognize that while one can have many friends, the quality of Friendship varies. A Friend might come and go, but genuine Friendship stands the test of time.
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Comparison Chart
Nature
Relationship or bond.
An individual in the relationship.
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Countability
Uncountable (refers to a concept or feeling).
Countable (refers to an individual).
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Types/Forms
Can be of various types (platonic, familial, romantic).
Role varies within the type of friendship.
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Duration
Can be short-lived or lifelong.
Might change over time, based on life events.
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Grammar
Used as a noun to define a type of relationship.
Used as a noun to refer to an individual or as an adjective (friendly).
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Compare with Definitions
Friendship
A bond of mutual affection between individuals.
Their Friendship lasted for decades, weathering many storms.
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Friend
An individual with whom one has a bond of mutual affection.
Sarah is my best Friend.
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Friendship
A feeling or atmosphere of cordiality.
The event was marked by a spirit of Friendship and camaraderie.
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Friend
A person whom one knows and trusts.
I consider Mike a true Friend.
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Friendship
An association built on trust and understanding.
Their Friendship was founded on mutual respect and trust.
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Friend
An ally or supporter in a particular activity.
The senator found a Friend in the lobbyist.
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Friendship
Friendship is a relationship of mutual affection between people. It is a stronger form of interpersonal bond than an association, and has been studied in academic fields such as communication, sociology, social psychology, anthropology, and philosophy.
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Friend
A person added to a list on a social networking site.
I received a Friend request from an old classmate.
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Friendship
The quality or condition of being friends.
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Friend
Someone not hostile or an enemy.
The neighboring countries are Friends and trade partners.
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Friendship
A friendly relationship
Formed new friendships at camp.
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Friend
A person whom one knows, likes, and trusts.
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Friendship
Friendliness; good will
A policy of friendship toward other nations.
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Friend
A person whom one knows; an acquaintance.
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Friendship
(uncountable) The condition of being friends.
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Friend
A person with whom one is allied in a struggle or cause; a comrade.
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Friendship
(countable) A friendly relationship, or a relationship as friends.
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Friend
One who supports, sympathizes with, or patronizes a group, cause, or movement
Friends of the clean air movement.
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Friendship
(uncountable) Good will.
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Friend
Friend A member of the Society of Friends; a Quaker.
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Friendship
The state of being friends; friendly relation, or attachment, to a person, or between persons; affection arising from mutual esteem and good will; friendliness; amity; good will.
There is little friendship in the world.
There can be no friendship without confidence, and no confidence without integrity.
Preferred by friendship, and not chosen by sufficiency.
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Friend
(Informal) To add (someone) as a friend on a social networking website.
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Friendship
Kindly aid; help; assistance,
Some friendship will it [a hovel] lend you gainst the tempest.
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Friend
(Archaic) To befriend.
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Friendship
Aptness to unite; conformity; affinity; harmony; correspondence.
Those colors . . . have a friendship with each other.
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Friend
A person, typically someone other than a family member, spouse or lover, whose company one enjoys and towards whom one feels affection.
John and I have been friends ever since we were roommates at college.
Trust is important between friends.
I used to find it hard to make friends when I was shy.
We became friends in the war and remain friends to this day.
We were friends with some girls from the other school and stayed friends with them.
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Friendship
The state of being friends
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Friend
An associate who provides assistance.
The Automobile Association is every motorist's friend.
The police is every law-abiding citizen's friend.
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Friendship
The state of being friends.
Their Friendship began in elementary school and continued into adulthood.
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Friend
A person with whom one is vaguely or indirectly acquainted.
A friend of a friend;
I added him as a friend on Facebook, but I hardly know
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Friendship
A relationship that isn't based on family ties or romantic love.
Their Friendship was pure and devoid of any romantic inclinations.
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Friend
A person who backs or supports something.
I’m not a friend of cheap wine.
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Friend
(informal) An object or idea that can be used for good.
Fruit is your friend.
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Friend
Used as a form of address when warning someone.
You’d better watch it, friend.
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Friend
(object-oriented programming) A function or class granted special access to the private and protected members of another class.
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Friend
(climbing) A spring-loaded camming device.
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Friend
(euphemistic) A lover; a boyfriend or girlfriend.
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Friend
A relative, a relation by blood or marriage.
Friends agree best at a distance.
Make friends of framet folk.
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Friend
To act as a friend to, to befriend; to be friendly to, to help.
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Friend
(transitive) To add (a person) to a list of friends on a social networking site; to officially designate (someone) as a friend.
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Friend
One who entertains for another such sentiments of esteem, respect, and affection that he seeks his society and welfare; a wellwisher; an intimate associate; sometimes, an attendant.
Want gives to know the flatterer from the friend.
A friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
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Friend
One not inimical or hostile; one not a foe or enemy; also, one of the same nation, party, kin, etc., whose friendly feelings may be assumed. The word is some times used as a term of friendly address.
Friend, how camest thou in hither?
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Friend
One who looks propitiously on a cause, an institution, a project, and the like; a favorer; a promoter; as, a friend to commerce, to poetry, to an institution.
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Friend
One of a religious sect characterized by disuse of outward rites and an ordained ministry, by simplicity of dress and speech, and esp. by opposition to war and a desire to live at peace with all men. They are popularly called Quakers.
America was first visited by Friends in 1656.
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Friend
A paramour of either sex.
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Friend
To act as the friend of; to favor; to countenance; to befriend.
Fortune friends the bold.
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Friend
A person you know well and regard with affection and trust;
He was my best friend at the university
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Friend
An associate who provides assistance;
He's a good ally in fight
They were friends of the workers
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Friend
A person with whom you are acquainted;
I have trouble remembering the names of all my acquaintances
We are friends of the family
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Friend
A person who backs a politician or a team etc.;
All their supporters came out for the game
They are friends of the library
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Friend
A member of the Religious Society of Friends founded by George Fox (the Friends have never called themselves Quakers)
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Common Curiosities
Can you have more than one best friend?
Yes, you can have multiple Friends whom you consider "best" based on different criteria or bonds.
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Is it necessary for friends to have common interests?
No, while common interests can strengthen Friendship, it's mutual respect and understanding that form its foundation.
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What constitutes a friendship?
Friendship is a bond of mutual affection, trust, and understanding between individuals.
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Can a family member be a friend?
Yes, a family member can also be considered a Friend if they share a bond of mutual affection and trust beyond familial ties.
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How can one nurture friendship?
Friendship can be nurtured through communication, spending quality time, understanding, and mutual support.
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Can you be friends with someone much older or younger?
Age is not a barrier to Friendship; people of different ages can be Friends based on mutual respect and shared interests.
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How has social media impacted friendship?
Social media has expanded the scope of Friendship, allowing people to connect globally, but it also challenges the depth of these connections.
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Can you revive a lost friendship?
It's possible to rekindle a Friendship by reaching out, communicating, and addressing past issues.
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How is friendship different from acquaintanceship?
Friendship is a deeper bond based on trust and affection, while an acquaintanceship is a more superficial knowledge of someone.
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Can animals form friendships?
Yes, animals can form bonds that resemble Friendship, showing affection and loyalty to each other or humans.
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Is it okay to have few friends?
The quality of Friendship is more important than quantity; having a few close Friends can be fulfilling.
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How do friendships impact mental health?
Strong Friendships provide support, reduce stress, and increase happiness, thereby positively impacting mental health.
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What's a "frenemy"?
A "frenemy" is someone who pretends to be a Friend but actually harbors resentment or hostility.
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What's the difference between a friend and a colleague?
A colleague is someone you interact with professionally, while a Friend is someone with whom you share a personal bond outside of work.
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Can friendships change over time?
Yes, like all relationships, Friendship can evolve based on life events, circumstances, and personal growth.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
