unfriend

English

Alternative forms

• un-friend

Etymology

From Middle English unfreond, equivalent to un- +‎ friend. Compare Old English unfriþmann, unwine.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɛnd
• (UK, US) IPA: /ʌnˈfɹɛnd/

Noun

unfriend (plural unfriends)

1. One who is not a friend; an enemy.
   • 1822, Scott, Nigel:

     Ye have back-friends, my lord, that is, un-friends, or to be plain, enemies.

   • 1916, William Edwin Chilton, John Downey Works, Fiscal relation between the United States and the District of Columbia

     Thus many unfriends and some friends of the Capital agree upon the same policy with diverse and contradictory motives […]

   • 1999, Kees Waaijman, John Vriend, The mystical space of Carmel:

     The unfriend betrays me, ignores me, denies me, breaks me down; the unfriend is against and tries to devour my personhood.

Synonyms

• backfriend

Verb

unfriend (third-person singular simple present unfriends, present participle unfriending, simple past and past participle unfriended)

1. (rare) To be severed as friends.
   • 1659, Thomas Fuller, The Appeal of Injured Innocence

     "I hope, sir, that we are not mutually Unfriended by this Difference which hath happened betwixt us."

2. (Internet) To defriend; to remove from one's friends list (eg on a social networking website).
   • 2007, Mia Consalvo, Caroline Haythornthwaite, Internet Research Annual: Volume 4

     "I asked her why, she said it was because I didn't comment, and I shrugged and said whatever. I didn't unfriend her."

Synonyms

• defriend

Antonyms

• friend