distant acquaintance

USAGE SUMMARY

"distant acquaintance" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone you barely know and have sporadic contact with. For example, "I have kept in touch with my distant acquaintance from college over the years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

Do you accept?" If Bill is merely a distant acquaintance, and you decline, will it look like a snub?

The New York Times - Tech

It's curious a film so desperate to tell it like it is should have such a distant acquaintance with any sort of realism.

The Guardian - Film

Too many of my waking hours were spent fantasizing scenes in which Patrick and I somehow met outside the classroom and our relationship developed out of distant acquaintance into passionate amour.

The New Yorker

Her husband likes to tell a story about a distant acquaintance who was looking for a cheap rental car and introduced himself, very sincerely, to Mr. Ngom's co-workers as his brother.

The New York Times

"You gotta move cameras around, and ashtrays; and continuity is apparently an issue") when Jennifer Westfeldt, who was at that point a distant acquaintance of Hamm's, invited him to be in a play she was working on in New York.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

We were celebrating in a hotel ballroom in Letchworth in Hertfordshire and I had struck up a conversation with distant acquaintance – a woman I had met only a few times before and have not met since.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Backderf was one of a circle of distant acquaintances of Dahmer's at high school in Ohio.

Independent

Distant acquaintances found circuitous ways of enclosing their bank-account numbers while complimenting Emma's fortitude and imagined wealth.

The New Yorker

By comparison, ingesting a glut of effortless romance and exotic adventure sports from distant acquaintances is likely to conjure up a desire to pull others down.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Dressed, as this year's tradition demanded, in a cowgirl costume, she spent much of the event attempting to locate and resituate her subjects, some of them now distant acquaintances, on a campus that had changed perhaps more than they had.

The New Yorker

In the midst of the mourning and finger-pointing, a policeman and a mental health clinic supervisor who were distant acquaintances got together over beer to talk about whether they could prevent such occurrences, jotting down ideas on bar napkins.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about social networks, use "distant acquaintance" to distinguish between close friends and more casual connections, especially when discussing privacy or information sharing.

Common error

Avoid using "distant acquaintance" interchangeably with "friend". "Distant acquaintance" implies a less significant relationship than "friend", and misusing the terms can misrepresent your social connections.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "distant acquaintance" functions as a noun phrase, specifically a compound noun. It identifies a person known to the speaker, but with whom they do not have a close relationship. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in varied written contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Science

16%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "distant acquaintance" is a commonly used and grammatically sound noun phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It accurately describes a person one knows but lacks a close relationship with. Its usage spans diverse contexts, primarily within news and media, and to a lesser extent, science and business. When writing, be sure not to confuse this term with "friend". For alternative wording, you might consider "casual acquaintance" or "slight acquaintance".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

casual acquaintance

Emphasizes the lack of commitment or strong connection.

slight acquaintance

Highlights the limited depth of the relationship.

remote acquaintance

Stresses the infrequency of contact or interaction.

passing acquaintance

Emphasizes the brief or fleeting nature of the interaction.

nodding acquaintance

Implies a relationship limited to brief greetings.

peripheral contact

Focuses on the marginal role the person plays in one's life.

vague acquaintance

Highlights the lack of detailed knowledge or familiarity.

tenuous link

Highlights the fragility or weakness of the connection.

loose connection

Indicates a weak or informal relationship.

superficial association

Stresses the lack of depth or meaningful interaction.

FAQs

How to use "distant acquaintance" in a sentence?

You can use "distant acquaintance" to describe someone you know but aren't close to. For example, "I ran into a "distant acquaintance" from high school at the grocery store."

What's the difference between "distant acquaintance" and "friend"?

"Distant acquaintance" refers to someone you know casually, while "friend" implies a closer relationship. A friend is someone you interact with regularly and share a personal connection with, while a "distant acquaintance" is someone you may only see occasionally.

What can I say instead of "distant acquaintance"?

Alternatives include "casual acquaintance", "slight acquaintance", or "nodding acquaintance", depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to add a "distant acquaintance" on social media?

Whether it's appropriate depends on your social media habits and privacy settings. If you're comfortable sharing your information with a wide network, adding a "distant acquaintance" may be fine. However, consider limiting their access to personal information.