familiarity

Knowing someone or something well because you have met or experienced them before.

• Her familiarity with the town helped us.
• This job requires familiarity with basic computer software.
• He gained familiarity with the language through daily practice.

How to use it: familiarity with someone/something (His familiarity with the area made the search easier.)

Similar words: knowledge, acquaintance

Opposites: unfamiliarity

Common phrases: familiarity with something, lack of familiarity, greater familiarity

Friendly, relaxed behaviour between people, sometimes too friendly for the situation.

• His familiarity made her uncomfortable.
• They spoke with the easy familiarity of old friends.
• Too much familiarity can seem rude at a formal meeting.

Similar words: intimacy, closeness, informality

Opposites: formality, reserve

Common phrases: too much familiarity, easy familiarity, excessive familiarity

An act that treats someone as very close, especially when this is unwelcome.

• She disliked that unwelcome familiarity.
• He would tolerate no familiarities from strangers.
• A sudden familiarity, such as a kiss, may offend a guest.

Similar words: liberty

Common phrases: unwelcome familiarity, such familiarity, improper familiarity