Mate: meaning, definitions and examples

This seems to be a duplication from the first entry; hence, the same context and examples apply.

• I'm meeting up with my mate for a drink.
• Hey mate, how's it going?

A general term for someone you have a close, affectionate, and supportive relationship with. Suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

• She is my best friend.
• I made a lot of new friends at university.

More formal than 'mate' or 'buddy'. It's often used to describe someone who shares your activities or travels with you. It can also refer to a pet or an escort.

• She was his constant companion during the trip.
• A dog can be a great companion.

Often used in American English to refer to a close friend or casual acquaintance. It conveys a sense of friendliness and informality.

• Hey buddy, long time no see!
• Let's hang out this weekend, buddy.

Use this in informal situations, especially in British English. It is often used to refer to a close friend rather than a romantic partner.

• I'm going to the pub with my mates.
• He's a good mate of mine.

This is suitable for formal or informal situations when referring to someone you are in a romantic relationship with. It is gender-neutral and can also refer to business partnerships.

• I'd like you to meet my partner.
• She is my business partner.

This term is appropriate for formal situations and refers specifically to someone you are married to. It is also gender-neutral.

• I will be attending the event with my spouse.
• He took his spouse to the doctor.

Use this in both formal and informal settings when you want to refer to someone you are in a committed romantic relationship with. It is also gender-neutral.

• Please bring your significant other to the party.
• She introduced her significant other to her parents.

Often used in both casual and scientific contexts to refer to animals or even humans forming a reproductive pair. It can be used without a negative connotation.

• The penguins will mate during the spring
• They chose each other as their mates

Generally used in agricultural or animal husbandry contexts to describe the reproduction of animals, usually with a focus on creating offspring with specific traits.

• Farmers often breed cows to produce higher milk yields
• Some dog breeders specialize in breeding purebred poodles

Commonly used to describe both humans and animals forming pairs, often in a non-reproductive context, such as forming teams or partnerships.

• During the team-building exercise, everyone had to pair up
• The birds pair up during the nesting season

A formal and scientific term often used in biological studies to describe the sexual union of animals. It is generally not used in everyday conversation.

• Biologists observed how the insects copulate in their natural habitat
• They studied the copulation behaviors of dolphins