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mateship

(countable, whaling, obsolete) A type of contract between ships to cooperate and share the proceeds of an expedition.

ˈmeɪtsˌhɪpCurrent152 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
🇦🇺 Australian & NZ slang
3 definitions
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Australia
#1·Apr 27, 2026AUS

(countable, whaling, obsolete) A type of contract between ships to cooperate and share the proceeds of an expedition.

Cluster: general
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Australia
#2·Apr 27, 2026AUS

(countable, and, uncountable, nautical) The post of mate on a ship; a posting as mate.

Origin: From . Cognate with. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
For parents

Mateship means: The post of mate on a ship; a posting as mate.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

mateship means: The post of mate on a ship; a posting as mate.. Register: neutral, standard English. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself. A formal-English equivalent (a synonym or descriptive phrase) is usually safer in writing. When in doubt, paraphrase rather than reuse the slang form.

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Australia
#3·Apr 27, 2026AUS

(uncountable) Fellowship; companionship.

Heard in the wild
  • “youtu.be/n8MvnxDO-B0?.... #News #Auspol #NSW #FairgoAustralia #Mateship”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
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🇦🇺About Australian & NZ slang slang

Aussie and Kiwi vocabulary — bogan, daggy, brekkie, sheila, bach, jandals — the whole Antipodean lexicon, including outback dialect, surf and beach culture, and Sydney/Melbourne street slang.

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