smoking-friendly
|smok-ing-friend-ly|
🇺🇸
/ˈsmoʊkɪŋ ˈfrɛndli/
🇬🇧
/ˈsməʊkɪŋ ˈfrɛndli/
permits or favors smoking
Etymology
'smoking-friendly' originates from Modern English, specifically a compound of 'smoking' (the present participle of 'smoke') and 'friendly' (from 'friend' + adjectival suffix '-ly'). 'smoke' ultimately comes from Old English 'smoca' meaning 'smoke, vapor', and 'friend' from Old English 'freond' meaning 'friend.'
'smoking-friendly' formed by productive compounding in modern English (20th century onward) as adjectives like 'user-friendly' and phrases indicating permissiveness (e.g., 'smoke-free') became common; the pattern '[noun]-friendly' was applied to 'smoking' to indicate a place or policy that permits or favors smoking.
Initially, 'friendly' primarily meant 'like a friend' or 'amiable'; over time it extended to mean 'favourable to' or 'permitting,' so the compound came to mean 'permitting or favorable to smoking.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
permitting, tolerating, or conducive to smoking; used to describe places, policies, or attitudes that allow the use of tobacco products.
The cafe advertised itself as smoking-friendly, with a separate area for smokers.
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Adjective 2
favourable or sympathetic to smokers or smoking culture (used more figuratively, e.g., an organization or policy that supports smokers' interests).
The lobbying group argued for a more smoking-friendly approach to workplace breaks.
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Last updated: 2025/11/23 03:27