goodwill

CEFRC1

/ˌɡʊdˈwɪl/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    Friendly feelings or helpful support toward someone or something.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    The ability of an individual or business to exert influence within a community, club, market or another type of group, without having to resort to the use of an asset (such as money or property), either directly or by the creation of a lien.

Examples

  • Our future depends on the goodwill of a small elite.

  • The airline provided free accommodation to stranded passengers as a goodwill gesture.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5
Synonyms
1

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. The value of a business entity not directly attributable to its tangible assets and liabilities, deriving from factors such as consumer loyalty to the brand.

  2. A favorably disposed attitude toward someone or something.

  3. The willingness of a worker to perform activities not strictly within the scope of the employment contract and not just work to rule.

More examples

In context

  • Your goodwill sank into my heart.

  • The company goodwilled the cost of the repairs.

  • As Denning MR said in Secretary of State for Employment v ASLEF (No. 2) (1972): 'a man is not bound to do more for his employer than his contract requires. He can withdraw his goodwill if he pleases.'

Synonyms

Antonyms

Quick test

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Nearby

Origin

noun

From Middle English *goodwille, good wille, possibly from Old English *gōdwille (compare gōdwillende (“well-pleased”)). Compare also Scots guidwilly, guidwillie (“displaying goodwill”). By surface analysis, good + will. Cognate with Scots guidwill (“goodwill”), Middle Low German gūtwille (“goodwill”), Old High German guotwilligi (“goodwill”), Old Danish godvilje (“goodwill”), Icelandic góðvilji, góðvili (“goodwill”), Icelandic góðvild (“goodness”). The sense "thrift shop" is a genericized trademark of the US-based chain Goodwill Industries.