- good will, goodwill
- Either form is acceptable in general senses, but it is customary to make it one word when referring to the reputation and trading value of a business.
Dictionary of troublesome word. Bill Bryson. 2013.
good will, goodwill
Look at other dictionaries:
good will — good will, goodwill Good will means ‘the intention and hope that good will result’ (and is hyphened in attributive position, i.e. before a noun as in a good will gesture); goodwill is ‘the established reputation of a business etc. as enhancing… … Modern English usage
good will — / goodwill [n] kindliness altruism, amity, benevolence, brownie points*, charity, comity, cordiality, favor, friendliness, friendship, generosity, good deed, good side of*, helpfulness, rapport, right side of*, sympathy, tolerance; concepts… … New thesaurus
good will — O.E. godes willan “virtuous, pious, upright,” also “state of wishing well to another.” One word form goodwill (18c.) is used especially in commercial senses … Etymology dictionary
good will — noun 1. a disposition to kindness and compassion (Freq. 5) the victor s grace in treating the vanquished • Syn: ↑grace, ↑goodwill • Derivationally related forms: ↑gracious (for: ↑ … Useful english dictionary
good·will — /ˌgʊdˈwıl/ noun [noncount] 1 or good will : a kind, helpful, or friendly feeling or attitude She has/feels goodwill toward all her coworkers. They allowed him to keep the extra money as a gesture of goodwill. trying to promote … Useful english dictionary
good will — is the usual spelling, though goodwill is acceptable, particularly when referring to the reputation and trading value of a business … Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors
goodwill — good will, goodwill Good will means ‘the intention and hope that good will result’ (and is hyphened in attributive position, i.e. before a noun as in a good will gesture); goodwill is ‘the established reputation of a business etc. as enhancing… … Modern English usage
goodwill — good will / goodwill [n] kindliness altruism, amity, benevolence, brownie points*, charity, comity, cordiality, favor, friendliness, friendship, generosity, good deed, good side of*, helpfulness, rapport, right side of*, sympathy, tolerance;… … New thesaurus
good nature — noun a cheerful, obliging disposition (Freq. 1) • Ant: ↑ill nature • Hypernyms: ↑disposition, ↑temperament • Hyponyms: ↑grace, ↑good will, ↑ … Useful english dictionary
goodwill — good·will / gu̇d ˌwil/ n 1: an intangible asset that is made up of the favor or prestige which a business has acquired beyond the mere value of what it sells due to the personality or experience of those conducting it, their reputation for skill… … Law dictionary
