companion

companion — noun

1. a person who spends time with you, shares your activities or experiences, or tra

1.nounB2
Definition

a person who spends time with you, shares your activities or experiences, or travels with you, so that you are not alone

Example

Aiko and her travel companion visited twelve countries during their year abroad.

collocation: travel companion

The elderly woman's constant companion was a small white dog named Biscuit.

collocation: constant companion

Common collocations
  • travel companion
  • constant companion
  • loyal companion
  • faithful companion
  • companion on a journey
  • hiking companion
  • dinner companion
Synonyms
  • friend

    implies a stronger emotional bond and personal affection, not just shared activity

  • partner

    used for someone you do a specific activity with, such as a dance partner or business partner

  • associate

    more formal and less personal, usually in a work or professional context

  • comrade

    suggests a shared difficult experience or a political/military connection, slightly old-fashioned

Antonyms

Usage Note

Companion suggests shared activity rather than emotional closeness; for a deeper personal bond, use 'friend'.

Common Mistakes

She is my best companion.
She is my best friend.
'Companion' is not used with 'best' to describe a close personal relationship; 'friend' is the right word for emotional closeness.

2. in earlier centuries, a woman employed by a family to stay in their home, look a

2.noun
Definition

in earlier centuries, a woman employed by a family to stay in their home, look after an older or sick person, and offer them friendship and help

Example

In Victorian times, wealthy families often employed a paid companion for their elderly relatives.

historical register: employed + paid companion

The old widow's companion read to her every afternoon and helped with her letters.

Common collocations
  • paid companion
  • lady's companion
  • employ a companion
  • work as a companion
Synonyms
  • caregiver

    modern term for someone paid to help an elderly or ill person; less focused on providing friendship

  • attendant

    focuses on service and practical help rather than companionship

  • chaperone

    specifically someone who accompanies a young unmarried woman in social situations, more restricted in meaning

Usage Note

This historical sense is now old-fashioned; in modern English, 'carer' or 'caregiver' is more common for paid help.

3. one of two things that match or are designed to be used together as a pair

3.noun
Definition

one of two things that match or are designed to be used together as a pair

Example

The shop assistant found the companion piece to the broken vase in the back room.

collocation: companion piece

This rich red wine is the perfect companion to roast lamb dishes.

companion to [food/dish]

Common collocations
  • companion piece
  • companion to [food/drink]
  • perfect companion
Synonyms
  • match

    more common in everyday speech; 'this sock is the match of that one'

  • counterpart

    more formal, used for things that have a complementary role rather than identical appearance

  • pair

    refers to the set of two items rather than one item in relation to the other

Usage Note

Often used in the phrase 'companion piece' for art, furniture, or collectibles that form a matching set.

4. a reference book whose title explains that it organises helpful facts, suggestio

4.noun
Definition

a reference book whose title explains that it organises helpful facts, suggestions, or directions on one specific topic

Example

'The Gardener's Companion' is a popular reference book with simple tips for beginners.

in book title: noun + 's Companion

She bought 'A Companion to Victorian Literature' for her university course.

in book title: Companion to [subject]

Common collocations
  • companion to
  • pocket companion
  • companion volume
Synonyms
  • guide

    more general term for a book that gives instructions or information

  • handbook

    focuses on practical how-to information rather than background knowledge

  • manual

    emphasises step-by-step instructions for using or doing something

Usage Note

Almost always appears as part of a book title. 'A Companion to...' is a standard format for academic reference books.

Common Mistakes

I bought a companion about cooking.
I bought a cooking companion.
'Companion' in this sense is not used alone with 'about'; it typically appears as part of a title or with an 'of/to' phrase.

companion — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Friend suggests a personal relationship built on affection and trust — you choose friends because you enjoy their company at a deeper emotional level. Partner focuses on a specific shared activity (dance partner, business partner, research partner) and does not imply personal closeness outside that activity. Companion is more neutral: it describes someone who shares your time or experiences, whether or not there is a strong emotional bond. For example, a travel companion may be a stranger you happen to sit next to on a long journey. Associate is formal and typically workplace-related: you may work closely with an associate without ever socialising outside the office. Comrade carries political or military overtones and suggests shared hardship or loyalty to a cause. If you want to say you enjoy someone's company on a personal level, use 'friend'. If you simply mean the person who was with you during an activity, 'companion' is the most appropriate choice.

friend ↗partner ↗companion ↗associate ↗comrade

Common collocations

Nouns

  • companion piece
  • companion volume
  • companion set

Adverbs

  • companionably

Phrases

Prepositions

  • companion to
  • companion for
  • companion on

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Companion comes from Latin 'companionem', which combines 'com-' (together, with) and 'panis' (bread). The original meaning was literally 'someone you share bread with' — a person with whom you eat meals, implying a close social bond. The word travelled through Old French 'compaignon' before entering Middle English as 'companioun'. The sense of a matching object or a reference book developed later, extending the idea of 'going together with' from people to things.