goodwill

plural goodwills · alternative dated good-will

1. uncountableusuallyA favorably disposed attitude toward someone or something.

   Synonyms: benevolence

2. uncountableusuallyaccountingThe value of a business entity not directly attributable to its tangible assets and liabilities, deriving from factors such as consumer loyalty to the brand.
3. uncountableusuallybusinessThe 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.
4. uncountableusuallytrade unionismbusinessThe 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.'

   2007 [1972], John Duddington, quoting Tom Denning, Baron Denning, Employment Law, Pearson Education, →ISBN, page 101

   1 more example

   The downside of this cost-saving strategy was that the train service could only be covered by goodwill. Whenever there was a spat between ASLEF and management - regardless of cause - the withdrawal of this goodwill became a stick with which unions could beat management.

   2022 November 16, Graham Eccles, “The Rest Day Working saga...”, in RAIL, number 970, page 32

5. CanadaUScapitalizedcountableuncommonusuallyA thrift shop.

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

   1990, Karen Christensen, Home Ecology: Simple and Practical Ways to Green Your Home, Fulcrum Publishing, page 65

   2 more examples

   Eventually she made her way onto a train, disguised in a wig and wheeling a pram complete with lifelike baby doll, just purchased from a goodwill store. Everyone seemed to want to look at 'her baby' and she had to pull the blankets over it as far as they would go or suspicions would have been aroused. A woman in a colorful dress who was sitting opposite Angie[…]

   2008, Esther Carney, Avenging Angel, zeus, →ISBN, page 445

   And I got tired of mom buying me used clothes from a goodwill store. I always thought back then, if Dad wouldn't had drank so much, he could have given mom a little bit more money to clothe us better. I say us, remember I had two sisters, and mom would buy them used clothes, also[…]

   2025 January 7, Robert Garcia, Died Three Times Lived Once, AuthorHouse, →ISBN

present singular third person goodwills · participle present goodwilling · participle past goodwilled · past goodwilled · alternative dated good-will

1. transitiveTo voluntarily provide or cover some or all of the cost of (something) to maintain goodwill.

   The company goodwilled the cost of the repairs.

plural Goodwills

1. Alternative letter-case form of goodwill (“thrift shop”).

plural Goodwills

1. A surname.
2. Numerous places:
   1. A suburb of Roseau, Dominica.
   2. A Free Village in Saint James Parish, Jamaica.
   3. An unincorporated community in Worcester County, Maryland, United States.
   4. An unincorporated community in Mercer County, West Virginia, United States, named after one Mr. Goodwill, the proprietor of a local mine.