good will
Học thuậtThân thiện
A company's good will is reflected in its loyal customers and positive reputation.
Definition
- Noun:
- Friendly and supportive feeling; benevolent attitude: A feeling of kindness, friendliness, and a desire for the success or well-being of others.
- (Accounting) An intangible business asset: The value of a company's brand name, solid customer base, good customer relations, good employee relations, and proprietary technology. This value exceeds the company's tangible assets.
- Kind and compassionate disposition: The inherent quality of being well-meaning and charitable.
- Mercy or generosity shown by a victor: The gracious or lenient treatment offered by a winner to the defeated.
Usage Examples
Noun (Friendly feeling):
- The community project was built on a foundation of mutual good will.
- She donated the money out of pure good will, expecting nothing in return.
Noun (Accounting asset):
- When the company was sold, a significant portion of the purchase price was allocated to good will.
- The firm's excellent reputation contributes greatly to its intangible good will.
Noun (Disposition):
- His actions were motivated by inherent good will towards all people.
Noun (Victor's grace):
- The general showed good will by releasing the prisoners of war.
Advanced Usage
"To bear good will": To have friendly or benevolent intentions.
- Despite their past disagreements, he bore them no ill will, only good will.
"As a gesture of good will": An action performed to demonstrate friendly intentions.
- The company offered a refund as a gesture of good will to the dissatisfied customer.
Variants and Related Words
- Goodwill (noun): The single-word spelling is a common variant, especially in business and accounting contexts (e.g., ).
- Well-wishing (noun): The act of expressing benevolent hopes for someone's success or happiness.
- Benevolence (noun): The quality of being well-meaning; kindness.
Synonyms
- Friendliness: The quality of being kind and pleasant.
- Benevolence: The disposition to do good.
- Kindness: The quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.
- Intangible asset (for the accounting sense): A non-physical asset.
Related Phrases
Goodwill ambassador: A person who acts as an unofficial representative to promote positive relations.
- The celebrity served as a goodwill ambassador for the charity.
Goodwill tour/visit: A journey or visit intended to create or strengthen friendly relations.
- The diplomat embarked on a goodwill tour of the region.
Related Idioms
- With the best of good will: With the very best and most sincere intentions.
- With the best of good will, I must advise you against this plan.
A company's good will is reflected in its loyal customers and positive reputation.
Noun
- the friendly hope that something will succeed
- (accounting) an intangible asset valued according to the advantage or reputation a business has acquired (over and above its tangible assets)
- a disposition to kindness and compassion
- the victor's grace in treating the vanquished