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acquaintance

[C/U] Both
pl: acquaintances

This word creates a social boundary, marking a relationship that lacks intimacy or deep emotional investment. It suggests a level of familiarity where names are known and polite conversation occurs, but there is no expectation of mutual support or personal vulnerability. When used to describe knowledge, the term implies a surface-level familiarity rather than mastery. It suggests a state of having encountered a subject or skill, but not having studied it intensely or integrated it into one's core expertise.

Countable when referring to a specific person you know slightly. Uncountable when referring to the general state of knowing or being familiar with a subject.

💬Conversación Casual

🎬Tuesday afternoon, Jessica is frantically organizing the quarterly gala guest list.
Mr. Sterling

Invite that acquaintance from the yurt retreat. He's a human kaleidoscope.

Mr. Sterling
Jessica
Jessica

I can't just wing it with some random guy on the VIP list.

💡
Mr. Sterling uses 'acquaintance' to describe a casual, vague connection from his eccentric past, while Jessica uses the phrasal verb 'wing it' (to do something without preparation) to express her anxiety over the lack of formal details for this guest.

Meanings

Noun
[a person]

A person one knows slightly, but who is not a close friend.

"He is a business acquaintance of mine from the conference last year."

Noun
[knowledge]

Knowledge or experience of something.

"My acquaintance with the local laws is quite limited."

Last Updated: May 26, 2026Report an Error