Definition

1. 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.

Noun

1. the friendly hope that something will succeed
2. (accounting) an intangible asset valued according to the advantage or reputation a business has acquired (over and above its tangible assets)
3. a disposition to kindness and compassion
   • the victor's grace in treating the vanquished