friction
FRIK-shun
/ˈfrɪk.ʃən/
Conflict or animosity caused by a clash of wills, temperaments, or opinions.
Metaphorical use of the physical force; suggests a 'rubbing' of personalities that causes heat or irritation.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'fricare,' meaning to rub. It was used in physics long before it was used to describe the 'rubbing' of people's personalities in the 18th century.
Word relationships
- tension: Tension is the feeling of strain; friction is the conflict resulting from that strain.
- harmony: Harmony is smooth interaction; friction is rough interaction.
Commonly confused with
- resistance: Resistance is pushing back; friction is the heat generated by the push.
Word family
- frictional (adjective): Relating to friction.
Collocations
- cause friction
- reduce friction
- political friction
- internal friction
Example sentences
- "There was considerable friction between the new manager and the long-term employees." Workplace environment.
- "Trade tariffs have caused significant friction between the two neighboring countries." International relations.
Memory hook
Friction makes fire; social friction makes 'heated' arguments. Rubbing people the wrong way.
When not to use
Not used for a single, explosive event; it describes an ongoing state of tension.
Fun facts
- In economics, 'frictional unemployment' refers to the time period between jobs when a worker is searching for or transitioning from one job to another.
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