acquaintances

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "acquaintances" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to people who you know but are not close friends with. Example sentence: I was surprised to run into one of my acquaintances at the mall.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They were casual acquaintances as teenagers but got to know each other properly when Vincent joined Holman's band Bareface.

The Guardian - Music

Other new acquaintances are shown solving Rubik's cubes together, and duetting on the violin.

The Guardian - Music

It was a safe assumption that Adidas had a box at San Siro as part of the deal, and that depending on who was asking there might be a couple of tickets kept aside for distant acquaintances of Adidas's "friends and family".

The Guardian - Sport

A lot of them are friends or acquaintances I've known for quite some time, but to now feel their resilience and know their strength is inspiring".

The Guardian - Arts

It was a first experience of a gift he had for making lifelong friends of people who otherwise might have remained acquaintances.

The Guardian - Sport

Mrs Al-Daher, who is known to western acquaintances as Nora, argued that the casino had been "under a duty of care" towards her as its staff knew she was a gambling addict or problem gambler and should have restrained her from betting.

The Guardian

A couple of acquaintances offered him temporary shelter but he spent most of his days wandering aimlessly around London, trying to keep warm during the winter months.

The Guardian

In conversations with acquaintances, the word "polite" never stops popping up.

The Guardian

Meanwhile, the figures, modelled by friends, acquaintances and amenable members of the working class, were done in the studio where Brown agonised for weeks over such details as the potboy's fancy waistcoat.

The Guardian - Arts

We greeted each other, as biker-travellers do, as old acquaintances, members of an international community of like-minded friends.

The Guardian - Travel

Four-fifths of Russians say that they have no gay acquaintances (though many may be wrong to say so).

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "acquaintances" to refer to people you know but are not close enough to call friends. It accurately describes relationships that are more than just passing encounters.

Common error

Avoid using "acquaintances" when referring to individuals with whom you share a close, supportive, and long-standing friendship. The term implies a degree of distance or superficiality.

Linguistic Context

The term "acquaintances" functions primarily as a noun, referring to individuals known to someone but not as intimately as friends. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in numerous contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Formal & Business

24%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "acquaintances" is a grammatically sound noun used to describe people one knows but isn't close to. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in various contexts. Its usage is very common, especially in News & Media. When writing, it's best to reserve "acquaintances" for those not considered close friends to maintain accuracy. For alternative phrasing, consider "casual contacts" or "associates" depending on the specific context. Avoid confusing close friends with "acquaintances" to maintain clarity in your writing. In a nutshell, "acquaintances" is a versatile and appropriate term when distinguishing casual relationships from closer friendships.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

casual contacts

Emphasizes the superficial or infrequent nature of the interactions.

peripheral contacts

Highlights that these individuals are not central to one's social circle.

social connections

Focuses on the broader network of people one is linked to, without specifying the depth of the relationship.

professional network

Implies connections made in a work or career environment.

social circle

Refers to a more loosely defined group of people one interacts with socially.

associates

A more formal term suggesting a working or professional relationship.

work colleagues

Specifically refers to people one works with.

fellow members

Suggests shared membership in a group or organization.

community contacts

Highlights relationships within a local geographic or interest-based group.

personal referrals

Focuses on individuals known through recommendations or introductions.

FAQs

How do I use "acquaintances" in a sentence?

You can use "acquaintances" to refer to people you know casually. For example, "I ran into several "acquaintances" at the conference."

What's a good synonym for "acquaintances"?

Depending on the context, you could use synonyms such as "associates", "contacts", or "connections". The best choice depends on the nature of the relationship.

What is the difference between "friends" and "acquaintances"?

"Friends" are people with whom you have a close, supportive relationship, while "acquaintances" are people you know on a more casual basis. The level of emotional connection and interaction differs significantly.

Is it appropriate to include "acquaintances" in my professional network?

Yes, building a network of "acquaintances" can be valuable for professional opportunities. They may provide leads or insights that close friends might not.