Buddy — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb adjective /ˈbə-dē/ bud·dy

Meaning & Definition of Buddy

Buddy (noun)

  1. companion, partner
  2. friend
  3. fellow —used especially in informal address

Buddy (verb)

  1. to become friendly —usually used with up or with

Buddy (adjective)

  1. featuring a friendship or partnership between the two main usually male characters

Buddy (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a person who has a strong liking for and trust in another

    "my old college buddy is the one person I can always turn to"

    similar: alter ego, amigo, chum, compadre, comrade, confidant, confidante, crony, familiar, friend, intimate, mate (chiefly British), musketeer, pal
    related: acquaintance, associate, cohort, colleague, companion, fellow, hearty, hobnobber, partner, peer, sport, blood brother, brother, main man, sister, abettor, accomplice, ally, collaborator, confederate, pen pal, benefactor, supporter, sympathizer, well-wisher, friendly
    opposite: enemy, foe
    near: adversary, antagonist, competitor, opponent, rival, archenemy, nemesis

Related Entry: Buddy-buddy (adjective)

Buddy-buddy is a different word from Buddy. The synonyms below are for buddy-buddy, not for buddy.

  1. closely acquainted

    "those two army officers have been buddy-buddy for years"

    similar: bosom, chummy, close, especial, familiar, friendly, inseparable, intimate, inward, near, thick, tight
    related: clannish, close-knit, tight-knit, affable, boon, companionable, convivial, cordial, genial, gracious, hearty, gregarious, sociable, social, comfortable, cozy, easy, snug, amicable, neighborly, confidential, secretive, adoring, affectionate, dear, devoted, fond, loving, tender, tenderhearted, warm
    opposite: distant
    near: aloof, antisocial, cold, cool, detached, distant, frosty, remote, reserved, standoffish, unfriendly, unsociable, withdrawn

  2. having or showing kindly feeling and sincere interest

    "he's even buddy-buddy to people he's only just met"

    similar: amicable, bonhomous, chummy, collegial, companionable, comradely, cordial, friendly, genial, hail-fellow, hail-fellow-well-met, hearty, matey (chiefly British), neighborly, palsy, palsy-walsy (slang), warm, warmhearted
    related: affable, agreeable, approachable, good-natured, good-tempered, gracious, nice, sweet, clubby, convivial, folksy, gregarious, hospitable, sociable, social, jolly, jovial, merry, extroverted, outgoing, brotherly, fraternal, sisterly, close, familiar, intimate, adoring, affectionate, devoted, fond, lovesome, loving, tender, tenderhearted
    opposite: antagonistic, hostile, unfriendly
    near: alienated, estranged, chilly, cold, cold-blooded, cool, frigid, frosty, glacial, icy, wintry, unsociable, unsocial, aggressive, argumentative, bellicose, belligerent, combative, contentious, disputatious, pugnacious, quarrelsome, scrappy, truculent, inhospitable, inimical

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Buddy

The most common words with a similar meaning to Buddy:

Chiefly British: mate
alter ego, amigo, chum, compadre, comrade, confidant, confidante, crony, familiar, friend, intimate, musketeer, pal

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Buddy

Words with the opposite meaning of Buddy:

enemy, foe

Related Words for Buddy

acquaintance, associate, cohort, colleague, companion, fellow, hearty, hobnobber, partner, peer, sport, blood brother, brother, main man, sister, abettor, accomplice, ally, collaborator, confederate, pen pal, benefactor, supporter, sympathizer, well-wisher, friendly

Near Antonyms of Buddy

adversary, antagonist, competitor, opponent, rival, archenemy, nemesis

Word Forms of Buddy

Inflections: buddies, buddied, buddying

Origin & Etymology of Buddy

probably baby talk alteration of brother

First known use: 1896

Words & Phrases Containing Buddy

buddy-buddy, buddy system, buddy up, the buddy system

Frequently Asked Questions about Buddy

What does "Buddy" mean?

"Buddy" means companion, partner. As an a noun, a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: companion, partner.

What is another word for "Buddy"?

Other words for "Buddy" include alter ego, amigo, chum, compadre, comrade, confidant, confidante and crony. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Buddy" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Buddy"?

There are 40 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Buddy". Common alternatives include alter ego, amigo, chum, compadre, comrade, confidant, confidante, crony, familiar and friend.

What is the opposite of "Buddy"?

Antonyms of "Buddy" include enemy and foe. Near antonyms include adversary, antagonist, competitor and opponent.

How do you use "Buddy" in a sentence?

Examples of "Buddy" in a sentence: "my old college buddy is the one person I can always turn to".

Is "Buddy" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Buddy" can be used as a noun, a verb and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Buddy"?

"Buddy" is pronounced /ˈbə-dē/ and divided into syllables as bud·dy.

What is the origin of the word "Buddy"?

"Buddy" comes from probably baby talk alteration of brother. First known use: 1896.