goodwill
guud-WIHL
Goodwill (noun) means a friendly, favorable attitude toward someone or something. Example: “The two companies signed the deal in a spirit of goodwill.”
noun
1
A friendly, favorable attitude toward someone or something.
"The two companies signed the deal in a spirit of goodwill."
"Her kindness towards the new neighbours earned a lot of goodwill on the street."
"He sent flowers as a gesture of goodwill after the argument."
2
In accounting, the intangible value of a business beyond its physical assets, such as brand reputation or customer loyalty.
"The purchase price included a large amount of goodwill on the balance sheet."
"The bakery's loyal customers gave the business plenty of goodwill, which raised its sale value."
"An accountant must decide how to record goodwill when one firm buys another."
3
A thrift or charity shop (especially capitalized, referring to the US chain).
"She found a great jacket at the Goodwill downtown."
"We dropped off two bags of old clothes at the Goodwill on Saturday."
"He furnished his first flat with bargains from a local Goodwill."
How to use goodwill
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFriendly intentions and cooperation — or, in business, the reputation-based value of a company beyond its assets.
Common pairings
goodwill gesture
a gesture of goodwill
goodwill towards
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Word forms
- Plural
- goodwills
- Third person singular
- goodwills
- Past tense
- goodwilled
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The two companies signed the deal in a spirit of _____.
Etymology
From Middle English good wille, built from "good" and "will"; the thrift-shop sense comes from the US charity Goodwill Industries.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
ill will
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “goodwill” mean?
The word “goodwill” means a friendly, favorable attitude toward someone or something. In plain terms, friendly intentions and cooperation — or, in business, the reputation-based value of a company beyond its assets.
How do you pronounce “goodwill”?
“Goodwill” is pronounced guud-WIHL (/ˌɡʊdˈwɪl/ in IPA).
How do you use “goodwill” in a sentence?
Here is “goodwill” used in a sentence: “The two companies signed the deal in a spirit of goodwill.”
What is the opposite of “goodwill”?
The opposite of “goodwill” — its antonyms — is ill will.
What part of speech is “goodwill”?
“Goodwill” is a noun.
Where does the word “goodwill” come from?
The word “goodwill” comes from Middle English. From Middle English good wille, built from "good" and "will"; the thrift-shop sense comes from the US charity Goodwill Industries.
Is “goodwill” a common word?
“Goodwill” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “goodwill” have?
“Goodwill” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a friendly, favorable attitude toward someone or something.
What is the difference between "goodwill" in everyday use and "goodwill" in accounting?
In everyday use, goodwill refers to a friendly, favorable attitude toward someone or something, such as goodwill between neighbors. In accounting, goodwill instead refers to the intangible value of a business beyond its physical assets, such as brand reputation or customer loyalty, and is a specific financial term used in valuations.
Why is "Goodwill" sometimes capitalized?
"Goodwill" is capitalized when referring specifically to the Goodwill charity, a thrift or charity shop chain in the US. The lowercase "goodwill" is used for the general senses relating to friendliness or business value.
How is business goodwill different from a company's reputation?
Reputation is the general public perception of a company, while goodwill in accounting is a specific measurable asset representing the value a business has beyond its tangible assets, often including reputation as one factor. Goodwill appears as a line item on financial statements, whereas reputation does not have a set monetary value.
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