buddies

IPA/ˈbʌd.i/
KK[bˈʌdiz]IPA/ˈbʌd.i/

buddies — noun

  • buddiessingular
  • buddiesesplural

1. people you know well and enjoy spending time with; close friends, often from chi

1.nounA2
Definition

people you know well and enjoy spending time with; close friends, often from childhood, school, or shared interests.

Example

Asher and his buddies from university still meet for dinner every month.

be buddies with [someone]; possessive + buddies

Lara has been buddies with Salma since they were five years old.

Common collocations
  • buddies from school
  • childhood buddies
  • old buddies
  • drinking buddies
  • buddies with
Synonyms
  • friends

    more general; buddies implies a slightly closer, more informal bond

  • pals

    very informal, common in British English

  • mates

    common in British and Australian English; same level of informality

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

buddies + with + [someone]

be buddies

Usage Note

The singular form is buddy (countable). Buddies is the regular plural. Common in informal conversation.

Common Mistakes

My buddy and me went fishing.
My buddy and I went fishing.
'Buddy' is a noun; use the correct subject pronoun.
He is my buddy since kindergarten.
He has been my buddy since kindergarten.
Use the present perfect for a relationship that started in the past and continues.

2. people who are paired with someone facing an illness, addiction, or difficult si

2.nounB1
Definition

people who are paired with someone facing an illness, addiction, or difficult situation to offer emotional support, encouragement, and practical help.

Example

The hospital assigns each new cancer patient a buddy who has already been through treatment.

assigns each patient a buddy

Brandon volunteers as a reading buddy for children who struggle with literacy.

reading buddy: buddy + for + purpose

Common collocations
  • hospital buddy
  • recovery buddy
  • reading buddy
  • study buddy
  • buddy system
  • buddy programme
Synonyms
  • mentor

    implies more guidance and teaching; less about emotional support

  • sponsor

    specifically for addiction recovery programs like AA

  • support worker

    a professional role, not a peer

Grammar Patterns

buddies + for + [purpose]

buddies + programme/system

Usage Note

Often used in compounds such as 'hospital buddy', 'recovery buddy', 'reading buddy'. The focus is on structured support rather than casual friendship.

3. people who regularly do a particular activity together, motivating and encouragi

3.nounB1
Definition

people who regularly do a particular activity together, motivating and encouraging each other to stay committed.

Example

Luca and Lien are gym buddies who go to the fitness centre every morning.

gym buddies: [activity] + buddies

A group of study buddies meets at the library every Sunday to prepare for exams.

Common collocations
  • workout buddies
  • study buddies
  • gym buddies
  • running buddies
  • travel buddies
  • hiking buddies
Synonyms
  • partners

    more formal, often used in professional contexts

  • teammates

    specifically for team sports or group projects

Grammar Patterns

buddies + for + [activity]

workout/study/travel buddies

Usage Note

Very productive in compounds: workout buddies, running buddies, study buddies, hiking buddies, travel buddies. The compound names the shared activity.

4. a way of speaking directly to a man, used in a friendly tone but more often to e

4.nounB1
Definition

a way of speaking directly to a man, used in a friendly tone but more often to express annoyance, impatience, or disagreement.

Example

Hey buddy, you dropped your wallet on the sidewalk just now.

spoken register: hey + buddy

Listen, buddy, I was here first, so please wait your turn like everyone else.

Common collocations
  • hey buddy
  • listen buddy
  • look buddy
  • thanks buddy
Synonyms
  • pal

    similar usage but less confrontational

  • mate

    common in British and Australian English

  • dude

    American English, less aggressive

Grammar Patterns

[sentence], buddy

Usage Note

Unlike senses 1–3, this is not a descriptive noun — it is a form of direct address. It can feel rude or aggressive depending on the tone of voice. Only used with men; the equivalent for a woman would be 'lady' or 'ma'am'.

Common Mistakes

❌ Using 'buddy' to address a woman — it sounds odd and may cause offence.

❌ Using it in formal writing or polite professional settings — too informal and potentially rude.

5. a warm, gentle way for an adult to address a young boy, showing friendliness and

5.nounB1
Definition

a warm, gentle way for an adult to address a young boy, showing friendliness and kindness.

Example

"Don't worry, buddy," said the firefighter as he carried the boy from the burning house.

spoken register: warm address from adult to child

The swimming coach knelt beside the child and said, "Come on, buddy, you can do this."

Common collocations
  • come on buddy
  • it's okay buddy
  • hey buddy
  • good job buddy
Synonyms
  • little man

    also affectionate but slightly more old-fashioned

  • champ

    encouraging, often used after an achievement

  • kiddo

    friendly but less warm than 'buddy'

Grammar Patterns

[sentence], buddy

Usage Note

This sense is affectionate and reassuring, the opposite of sense 4. It can be used by parents, teachers, relatives, or any caring adult. Not used for girls — 'sweetie' or 'honey' are more common alternatives.

Common Mistakes

❌ Using this to address a teenage boy — it may sound patronising. Reserve for younger children (roughly under 12).

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Buddies, friends, pals, and mates all refer to people you have a positive relationship with, but they differ in register and closeness. Friend is the most neutral and widely used term. Buddy adds a layer of informality and warmth; it often suggests a shared history or similar age. Pal is mainly used in British English and can feel slightly old-fashioned or playful. Mate is very common in British, Australian, and New Zealand English, functioning the same way as 'buddy' in North America. Buddy is rarely used in formal contexts — you would introduce someone as 'my friend' rather than 'my buddy' in a professional setting. Example: 'Mei-Ling is a close friend from college.' 'I am heading to the pub with my mates.' 'He is one of my oldest buddies; we grew up on the same street.'

friends ↗pals ↗mates ↗buddies ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • childhood buddies
  • old buddies
  • school buddies

Phrases

  • be buddies
  • become buddies
  • stay buddies

Prepositions

  • buddies with

Etymology

American EnglishEnglish

Buddy first appeared in American English in the mid-1800s, possibly as a child's pronunciation of brother. It spread quickly as an informal word for a close friend and later developed specialized uses like 'buddy system' (military, early 1900s) and 'buddy film' (1970s).

First known use

1896

1896, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Verb