MEANING
1. Resistance that opposes relative movement between contacting surfaces or through a fluid.
2. Tension or disagreement between people or groups whose interests or views do not fit easily together.
3. Costs, barriers, or information problems that prevent an economic process from operating without obstacles.
Use it for
describing resistance that slows movement; distinguishing friction from a general opposing force; explaining a physical mechanism in clear proseDistinguishes physical resistance, social conflict, and costs that impede exchange without requiring interpersonal hostility. Writing functions: Causation / Relationships, Research / Methodology.
Words that belong together
- friction between surfaces
- reduce friction
- frictional resistance
On the page
The rough surface increased friction and slowed the sliding block.
The account distinguishes friction from the force applied to start the movement.
The new reporting line created friction between teams that had previously worked independently.
The interviews reveal friction over responsibility rather than disagreement about the project’s aims.
The model includes financial frictions rather than assuming that every firm can borrow on identical terms.
Word forms
- Base
- friction
Usage notes
Usually uncountable in physical and interpersonal senses. Plural frictions is natural for distinct economic constraints or recurring points of conflict. Register: neutral. Commonness: moderately common (qualitative editorial estimate, informed by dictionaries/corpus).
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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