rapport means A relationship of mutual trust and respect; a close and harmonious relationship in which the people or groups concerned understand each other's feelings or ideas and communicate well.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, rapport ranks #2,340 of 14,361 for Most Ingenious Words, #2,350 of 14,448 for Most Incisive Words, #2,382 of 14,414 for Most Elegant Words, #7,082 of 14,423 for Most Sublime Words.
rapport is pronounced /ɹæˈpɔɹ/.
Why “rapport” is a great word
A relationship characterized by mutual trust, emotional affinity, and harmonious understanding, enabling effective communication. From the French rapport ("bearing, yield; harmony, agreement"), itself from rapporter ("to bring back, report"), from the prefix re- ("again") + apporter ("to bring"), from Latin apportare ("to bring to"). Borrowed into English in the 16th century for "relation, proportion," with the modern sense of harmonious relationship borrowed back from French in the early 20th century. Unlike "acquaintance" (which implies only a surface-level familiarity, a name without a pulse) or "formality" (which erects polite but chilly boundaries of ritual and distance), rapport is the quiet hum of two minds moving in step—a shared glance that needs no explanation, the warmth of a hand on your shoulder before the bad news is spoken, the unspoken alignment of breath and intent in a room where words, for once, glide without friction. It is the rare comfort of being known, and knowing, in return.
Etymology
Borrowed from French rapport. Doublet of report.
noun
- A relationship of mutual trust and respect; a close and harmonious relationship in which the people or groups concerned understand each other's feelings or ideas and communicate well.“He always tried to maintain a rapport with his customers.”
- Relation; proportion; conformity.“'Tis obvious enough, what rapport there is, and muſt ever be, between the Thoughts and Words, the Conceptions and Languages of every Country, [...]”
Words closest in meaning
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