A friend is someone you know well, like, and trust, and who likes and cares about you in return. Friends often spend time together and support each other.
From Old English “frēond” meaning “one who loves or favors,” related to “frēo” (free) and “friðu” (peace). It originally emphasized a loving, peaceful relationship.
Social media turned ‘friend’ into a button, but in real life friendship is built from thousands of tiny shared moments. Psychologists find that having even a few close friends can protect both your mental and physical health as strongly as some medicines.
While “friend” is gender-neutral, social norms have shaped how men and women are expected to form and label friendships, with women’s friendships often trivialized and cross-gender friendships sexualized. In tech and social media, “friend” has also been used to market parasocial or unequal relationships.
Use “friend” for any gender without assumptions about romantic or sexual interest. Avoid using “friend” euphemistically to hide same-gender partners if the person prefers another term.
["colleague","acquaintance","contact","peer"]
Women’s friendship networks have been crucial for political organizing, mutual aid, and professional advancement, even when dismissed as mere “socializing.”
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