Intimacy Definition & Meaning

American

British

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms intimacy American [in-tuh-muh-see] / ˈɪn tə mə si /

noun

plural

intimacies

1. the state of being intimate.

2. a close, familiar, and usually affectionate or loving personal relationship with another person or group.

   Synonyms: affection, warmth, familiarity, closeness

3. a close association with or detailed knowledge or deep understanding of a place, subject, period of history, etc..

   an intimacy with Japan.

4. an act or expression serving as a token of familiarity, affection, or the like.

   to allow the intimacy of using first names.

5. an amorously familiar act; liberty.

6. sexual intercourse.

7. the quality of being comfortable, warm, or familiar.

   the intimacy of the room.

8. privacy, especially as suitable to the telling of a secret.

   in the intimacy of his studio.

intimacy British / ˈɪntɪməsɪ /

noun

1. close or warm friendship or understanding; personal relationship

2. euphemistic (often plural) sexual relations

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of intimacy

First recorded in 1635–45; intim(ate) 1 + -acy

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Subtly, though, this introduces a new move to their repertoire: honest intimacy.

From Salon

When all experience is shared by a hive mind, what are the rules, including about intimacy?

From The Wall Street Journal

One of the reasons I love food gifts at the holidays is that they’re remarkably flexible when it comes to intimacy.

From Salon

There is a particular intimacy to hatred when it addresses you by name.

From Salon

It just created this real, almost, like, subconscious intimacy because it’s the mother tongue.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• affection
• confidence
• confidentiality
• familiarity
• friendship
• understanding

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.