How do you use the word "goodwill" in a sentence?

Q: How do you use the word "goodwill" in a sentence?

Here are real-life examples of using "goodwill": Your goodwill sank into my heart. The airline provided free accommodation to stranded passengers as a goodwill gesture.

Goodwill Meaning

/ˌɡʊdˈwɪl/

Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Definition

nounA favorably disposed attitude toward someone or something.

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

Sentence Examples

Your goodwill sank into my heart.

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

Our future depends on the goodwill of a small elite.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms:

grace

Antonyms:

None

CEFR Practice Quiz

The charity event was successful thanks to the ____ of the volunteers and donors.

CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)

The charity event was a tremendous success, raising both money and ____ within the local community.

Word Origin & History

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.

Literary Quotations & Historical Citations

"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.'" — 2007 [1972], John Duddington, quoting Tom Denning, Baron Denning, Employment Law, Pearson Education, →ISBN, page 101:

"The downside of this cost-saving strategy was that the train service could only be covered by goodwill. Whenever there was a spat between ASLEF and management - regardless of cause - the withdrawal of this goodwill became a stick with which unions could beat management." — 2022 November 16, Graham Eccles, “The Rest Day Working saga...”, in RAIL, number 970, page 32:

"Buy from goodwills, garage sales, friends, and neighbors. Choose beautiful, functional, durable items made by craftspeople." — 1990, Karen Christensen, Home Ecology: Simple and Practical Ways to Green Your Home, Fulcrum Publishing, page 65:

"Eventually she made her way onto a train, disguised in a wig and wheeling a pram complete with lifelike baby doll, just purchased from a goodwill store. Everyone seemed to want to look at 'her baby' and she had to pull the blankets over it as far as they would go or suspicions would have been aroused. A woman in a colorful dress who was sitting opposite Angie[…]" — 2008, Esther Carney, Avenging Angel, zeus, →ISBN, page 445:

"And I got tired of mom buying me used clothes from a goodwill store. I always thought back then, if Dad wouldn't had drank so much, he could have given mom a little bit more money to clothe us better. I say us, remember I had two sisters, and mom would buy them used clothes, also[…]" — 2025 January 7, Robert Garcia, Died Three Times Lived Once, AuthorHouse, →ISBN:

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