buddy

buddy — noun

1. a person you know well, like, and enjoy spending time with.

1.nounA2
Definition

a person you know well, like, and enjoy spending time with.

Example

Ravi met his old buddy for noodles after work.

old buddy

My camping buddies still laugh about the storm in Hualien.

plural: buddies

Common collocations
  • old buddy
  • childhood buddy
  • drinking buddy
  • fishing buddy
Synonyms
  • friend

    more general and neutral; 'buddy' sounds warmer and more informal

  • pal

    also informal; often slightly old-fashioned or playful

  • mate

    common in British English; regional choice rather than a perfect American match

Antonyms
  • enemy

    someone opposed to you rather than friendly

  • stranger

    someone you do not know, so there is no personal bond

Usage Note

Very common in informal American English. It often appears in compounds such as 'old buddy' or 'fishing buddy' that name the kind of friendship.

Common Mistakes

He is my buddy worker.
He is my work buddy.
the activity or setting usually comes before 'buddy'.

2. a person who stays in touch with someone who is ill or having a hard time, givin

2.nounB2
Definition

a person who stays in touch with someone who is ill or having a hard time, giving friendly support and practical help.

Example

Each sick child got a buddy from the local support group.

buddy from a support group

Nadia called her group buddy after a hard night at home.

Common collocations
  • support-group buddy
  • recovery buddy
  • assigned buddy
  • buddy system
Synonyms
  • supporter

    broader; may help emotionally without regular personal contact

  • helper

    simple and general; does not always suggest friendship

  • mentor

    usually gives guidance or advice rather than day-to-day care

Usage Note

Often found in organized support programs and in the phrase 'buddy system'. The buddy is usually linked to one person rather than being just a general friend.

Common Mistakes

The hospital gave each patient a friend buddy.
The hospital gave each patient a buddy.
this sense already includes the idea of friendly support.

3. someone who joins you for a regular sport, class task, or similar activity, with

3.nounB1
Definition

someone who joins you for a regular sport, class task, or similar activity, with both of you giving each other help.

Example

Hana and I are study buddies before every history exam.

study buddy

The gym matched Yusuf with a running buddy for cold mornings.

running buddy

Common collocations
  • study buddy
  • running buddy
  • swim buddy
  • workout buddy
Synonyms
  • partner

    more general; can be formal or official as well as friendly

  • teammate

    best when you belong to the same sports team or work team

  • companion

    more neutral or literary; less tied to one shared activity

Antonyms
  • opponent

    someone you compete against instead of working with

Usage Note

Usually appears in compounds naming the shared activity, such as 'study buddy' or 'swim buddy'. Distinguish from sense 2, which is for support during illness or personal difficulty.

Common Mistakes

She is my buddy for study.
She is my study buddy.
the shared activity usually comes before 'buddy'.

4. a word used to speak directly to a man, especially when you sound tough, annoyed

4.nounB1
Definition

a word used to speak directly to a man, especially when you sound tough, annoyed, or too familiar.

Example

Move your truck, buddy, you're blocking the whole gate.

direct address in complaint

Easy there, buddy, nobody took your seat on the bus.

Common collocations
  • listen, buddy
  • easy there, buddy
  • thanks, buddy
Synonyms
  • pal

    also used in direct address, but often sounds more friendly than sharp

  • man

    common in casual speech; less likely to sound deliberately tough

  • friend

    can be ironic in the same way, but is slightly less colloquial

Usage Note

Only used directly to the person you are speaking to, usually in spoken English. Tone matters: it can sound friendly, but it can also sound confrontational.

Common Mistakes

I wrote buddy at the start of the email to the bank clerk.
I wrote Dear Mr Lin at the start of the email.
this use is spoken and very informal, so it sounds wrong in formal writing.

5. a warm word an adult uses when speaking kindly to a small boy.

5.nounA2
Definition

a warm word an adult uses when speaking kindly to a small boy.

Example

Nice catch, buddy, your dad saw the whole game.

kind address to a boy

Hold my hand, buddy, the road is wet here.

Common collocations
  • good job, buddy
  • come on, buddy
  • okay, buddy
Synonyms
  • kiddo

    similarly warm and informal; not limited to boys

  • champ

    friendly and encouraging, often said when praising a child

Usage Note

Typically said by a parent, teacher, doctor, or other adult to reassure a small boy. Distinguish from sense 4, which is more often used to an adult male and may sound sharp.

buddy — verb

buddy — adjective

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

For noun sense 1, buddy is warmer and more casual than friend. A friend can be anyone you like or trust, while a buddy often suggests easy time together, shared activities, and relaxed speech. Pal is also informal, but it can sound playful or slightly old-fashioned. Mate is the closest match in everyday British English, while buddy sounds more American. Companion is broader and more formal; it can describe someone who simply goes with you, not always a close friend. So you can say 'Ravi is my buddy from college' for a natural, friendly tone, but 'Ravi is my companion from college' sounds distant or unusual in ordinary conversation.

friend ↗pal ↗mate ↗companion ↗

Etymology

English

Buddy appeared in the United States in the late nineteenth century. Dictionaries usually connect it either to a childlike shortening of brother or to British dialect butty, a word for a workmate or companion. Both explanations point to the same central idea: close company. That is why the word later spread from a simple meaning of 'friend' to uses such as study buddy and buddy system.