acquaintance

/əˈkweɪntəns/noun

Someone you know slightly but who is not a close friend.

Example sentence

“He's just an acquaintance from work, not really a friend.”

Fills the gap between stranger and friend. "Make someone's acquaintance" is a formal, slightly old-fashioned way to say you met them.

Related words

companionA person or animal that spends time with you or travels alongside you; a friend or partner.heritageThe traditions, values, and customs handed down within families or communities from earlier generations.roommateSomeone you share a room or living space with, for example in a dormitory or apartment.reunionAn organized gathering where people who have been apart, such as family or old classmates, come together again.infantA baby; a child in the earliest stage of life who still needs care around the clock.householdAll the people who live together in one home, considered as a single unit.