Words / B2

uh-KWAYNT-uh-ns/əˈkweɪntəns/

An acquaintance is someone you know slightly, not a close friend: a business acquaintance; make someone’s acquaintance (formal). Friend is stronger. Acquaintance with a subject is slight knowledge. Do not call a partner an acquaintance. Vacancies mentioned by an acquaintance on a board.

Meaning

A person you know slightly; also knowledge of a subject (a passing acquaintance).

Examples

• “An acquaintance on the board mentioned the vacancy, which is not a close friend.”
• “She has only a passing acquaintance with statistics, which is the knowledge sense.”

Good to know

an acquaintance; a passing acquaintance with. Stronger: friend. Formal: make someone’s acquaintance. Not a partner or a stranger. Networking register.

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