playmate

[ pley-meyt ]

noun

1. a companion, especially of a child, in play or recreation.
2. Informal. a social companion or lover; girlfriend or boyfriend:

   He showed up at the nightclub with his new playmate.

playmate

/ ˈpleɪˌmeɪt /

noun

1. a friend or partner in play or recreation

   childhood playmates

Word History and Origins

Origin of playmate¹

First recorded in 1635–45; play + mate ¹

Example Sentences

The Times took a look at some of these twisty stories where lovers and friends seek soulmates and playmates in locales that stretch from 11th century Italy to an alternative future.

From Los Angeles Times

The clip highlighted an obvious imbalance between a male figure – disingenuously portrayed as a fellow playmate – in a position of power to a teenage girl.

From Salon

But in the meantime, mother chimps continue to be their offspring's primary playmate, tickling, chasing, playing 'airplane'.

From Science Daily

He went from being Thomas Jefferson’s childhood playmate to becoming his personal servant—which meant, in Jefferson’s words, to “shave, dress and follow me on horseback.”

From Literature

Teresa and her playmates are obsessed with the prophecies of Our Lady of Fátima, received by three country children in visions that coincided with the triumph of Russian Bolshevism.

From New York Times