goodwill

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   as in accounting, an intangible asset valued according to the advantage or reputation a business has acquired over and above its tangible assets

   The goodwill account can be found in the assets portion of a company's balance sheet.

2. 2
   noun

   The willingness of a worker to perform activities not strictly within the scope of the employment contract and not just work to rule.

   As Denning MR said in Secretary of State for Employment v ASLEF (No. 2) (1972): 'a man is not bound to do more for his employer than his contract requires. He can withdraw his goodwill if he pleases.'

3. 3
   noun

   A thrift shop.

   Buy from goodwills, garage sales, friends, and neighbors. Choose beautiful, functional, durable items made by craftspeople.

4. 4
   noun

   a disposition to kindness and compassion

5. 5
   noun

   the friendly hope that something will succeed

6. 6
   noun

   A favorably disposed attitude toward someone or something.

7. 7
   noun

   The value of a business entity not directly attributable to its tangible assets and liabilities, deriving from factors such as consumer loyalty to the brand.

8. 8
   noun

   The ability of an individual or business to exert influence within a community, club, market or another type of group, without having to resort to the use of an asset (such as money or property), either directly or by the creation of a lien.

Etymology

From Middle English *goodwille, good wille (“goodwill”), perhaps from Old English *gōdwille (“goodwill”); compare Old English gōdwillende (“well-pleased”); also Scots guidwilly, guidwillie (“displaying goodwill”), equivalent to good + will. Cognate with Scots guidwill (“goodwill”), Middle Low German gūtwille (“goodwill”), Old High German guotwilligi (“goodwill”), Old Danish godvilje (“goodwill”), Icelandic góðvilji, góðvili (“goodwill”), Icelandic góðvild (“goodness”). The sense "thrift shop" is a genericized trademark of a US chain of such shops.