Definition

Noun: A companion with whom one plays, especially a child's friend in games or recreational activities.

Usage

Playfellow is a somewhat old-fashioned or literary term for a playmate. It specifically denotes a companion in play, emphasizing the shared activity of playing together. It is most commonly used when referring to children.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The young prince had no suitable playfellow in the castle.
  • In the novel, the two children became inseparable playfellows during the summer.
  • She remembered her childhood playfellow fondly.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used figuratively to describe a companion in lighthearted or whimsical activities, even for adults, though this is rare.
  • In their retirement, they became golfing playfellows.

Variants and Related Words

• Playmate (noun): A more common and modern synonym for .
  • The children in the neighborhood are all good playmates.

Synonyms

• Playmate
• Companion
• Friend (in the context of play)

Antonyms

• Opponent (in a game)
• Adversary

Related Phrases/Idioms

• Childhood playfellow: A common collocation emphasizing the nostalgic or long-standing nature of the friendship formed in youth.
  • He met his childhood playfellow again after fifty years.

Noun

1. a companion at play