pal

¹ American  

[pal] / pæl /

noun

1. a friend or close associate; chum; comrade.

2. an accomplice.

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verb (used without object)

palled, palling

1. to associate as comrades or chums.

   to pal around with the kid next door.

PAL ² American  

[pal] / pæl /

noun

1. a special air service offered by the U.S. Postal Service for sending parcels from 5 to 30 pounds (2.3 to 13.5 kilograms) to overseas members of the armed forces: only the regular parcel post rate to the U.S. port of shipment plus $1 is charged.

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PAL ³ American  

Or P.A.L.

abbreviation

1. Police Athletic League.

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pal. ⁴ American  

abbreviation

1. paleography.

2. paleontology.

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Pal. ⁵ American  

abbreviation

1. Palestine.

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pal ¹ British  

/ pæl /

noun

1. a close friend; comrade

2. an accomplice

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verb

1. (intr; usually foll by with or about) to associate as friends

Pal. ² British  

abbreviation

1. Palestine

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PAL ³ British  

/ pæl /

acronym

1. phase alternation line: a colour-television broadcasting system used generally in Europe

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Etymology

Origin of pal¹

First recorded in 1675–85; English Romani: “brother, mate,” variant of continental Romani phral, ultimately from Sanskrit bhrātṛ “brother”; see brother

Origin of PAL²

P(arcel) A(ir) L(ift)

Explanation

A pal is a good friend. When you're feeling nervous, sad, or lonely after moving to a new town, it can make you feel better to talk to a pal. If you have a friend you think of as a buddy or a mate, that's a pal. Your earliest pals are often the kids in your neighborhood or at school. As you get older, you have the chance to meet more pals — and when you're friendly with these pals and hang out with them, you can say you "pal around" with them. Pal is originally a Romany word meaning "brother," from the Sanskrit bhrata, also "brother."

Example Sentences

By lying encouragingly, “Sure, pal, you can do anything you want to!”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

He set his sights on Greenland, apparently at the behest of a cosmetics heir pal.

From Salon • Mar. 19, 2026

For me it began with a text from my pal “Deep Blue,” which initially didn’t seem terribly promising.

From Barron's • Mar. 12, 2026

This was the dream scenario: baseball’s very best, edgy crowd, one-run game, two outs, a title on the line—and Ohtani getting the better of his pal on a filthy 3-2 sweeper.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026

Carmen and her pal Tony were heading back from school, making their way through the noisy streets of their neighborhood, Boston’s North End.

From "I Survived the Great Molasses Flood, 1919" by Lauren Tarshis