goodwill

Meaning

1. (uncountable, usually) A favorably disposed attitude toward someone or something.
2. (uncountable, usually) The value of a business entity not directly attributable to its tangible assets and liabilities, deriving from factors such as consumer loyalty to the brand.
3. (uncountable, usually) A concept used to refer to the ability of an individual or business to exert influence within a community, club, market or another type of group, without having to resort to the use of an asset (such as money or property), either directly or by the creation of a lien.
4. (uncountable, usually) The willingness of a worker to perform activities not strictly within the scope of the employment contract and not just work to rule.
5. (Canada, US, also, capitalized, countable, usually) A thrift shop.

Synonyms

benevolence

good will

favour

kindness

zeal

heartiness

good intention

intangible assets

friendship

friendliness

readiness

amicability

connection

benignance

good wishes

grace

graciousness

benignancy

Christian love of fellow men

favor

intimacy

benignity

patronage

pleasure

practice

relation

reputation

smile

😄

sympathy

unity

unselfishness

willing

friendly relations

good terms

well-meaning

affection

concernedness

friendly relation

virtuous intention

accord

bigheartedness

agreement

alliance

ardour

bonhomie

clientele

complacence

complaisance

concord

courtesy

credibility

credit standing

credit worthiness

fervour

fondness

good faith

good nature

goodness

harmony

hospitality

image

liking

Translations

buena voluntad

bonne volonté

bienveillance

fonds commercial

goodwill

fonds de commerce

Wohlwollen

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɡʊdˈwɪl/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: *goodwille

Inherited from Old English: *gōdwille

Cognate with Old English: gōdwillende

Cognate with Scots: guidwilly

Cognate with Scots: guidwill

Cognate with Middle Low German: gūtwille

Cognate with Old High German: guotwilligi

Cognate with Danish: godvilje

Cognate with Icelandic: góðvilji

Cognate with Icelandic: góðvild

In summary

From Middle English *goodwille, good wille (“goodwill”), perhaps from Old English *gōdwille (“goodwill”); compare Old English gōdwillende (“well-pleased”); also Scots guidwilly, guidwillie (“displaying goodwill”), equivalent to good + will. Cognate with Scots guidwill (“goodwill”), Middle Low German gūtwille (“goodwill”), Old High German guotwilligi (“goodwill”), Old Danish godvilje (“goodwill”), Icelandic góðvilji, góðvili (“goodwill”), Icelandic góðvild (“goodness”). The sense "thrift shop" is a genericized trademark of a US chain of such shops.