English · Word Candidate

intimacy

/ˈɪn.tɪ.mə.si/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: intimacies

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Feeling or atmosphere of closeness and openness towards someone else, often but not necessarily involving sexuality.

Noun

Examples

To adulterous lust the most sacred duties are sacrificed, because, before marriage, men, by a promiscuous intimacy with women, learned to consider love as a selfish gratification—learned to separate it not only from esteem, but from the affection merely built on habit, which mixes a little humanity

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Intimate relationship.

Noun

Examples

1787, Robert Burns, Letter to Dr. Moore, 23 April, 1787, in J. Logie Robertson (ed.), The Letters of Robert Burns, Selected and Arranged, with an Introduction, London: Walter Scott, 1887, p. 57, I have formed many intimacies and friendships here, but I am afraid they are all of too tender a construc

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “intimacy” mean?

Feeling or atmosphere of closeness and openness towards someone else, often but not necessarily involving sexuality.

Is “intimacy” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.