In our line of work we often work with other companies as partners on some jobs, and then compete against them on other jobs. So they are partners and competitors. Is there a good term for this, along the lines of "frenemies"?
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3Someone with whom you engage in "co-opetition"?– HellionCommented Dec 21, 2012 at 19:24
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2This feels like it's about to turn into a "bikeshed" type of question. Is there a way we can make this into something where everyone won't have an opinion?– Matt E. ЭлленCommented Dec 21, 2012 at 23:24
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3 Answers
On the theory that one should keep one's friends close, and one's enemies closer, the academic world uses the term Colleague for precisely the relationship you describe, as well as others.
answered Dec 21, 2012 at 19:40
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1I don't know if that was the intention on your part, but it made me laugh! I've always understood that in the academic (as opposed to the business) world, colleagues is as likely to mean enemies as friends. Commented Dec 22, 2012 at 0:00
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"If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they'll kill you." -- Oscar Wilde Commented Dec 22, 2012 at 0:12
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1Always tell the truth, but don't always be telling the truth (I've often been castigated with that one! :) Commented Dec 22, 2012 at 0:31
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I don't believe that there's any term such as frenemy that encapsulates the ideas of both partner and competitor when it comes to companies. You could perhaps choose from some of the more non-committal related terms such as:
On second thought, I suppose that only peer could be construed as completely neutral. But there you have it.
answered Dec 21, 2012 at 19:06
Since you have invoked the [portmanteau-words] (0 followers) I will suggest:
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I was hoping I would get credit for creating this word but a web search shows otherwise. Commented Aug 15, 2013 at 17:09