Leslie H. Nicoll, PhD, MBA, RN, FAAN
Writer’s Camp Director
Wordcraft at Camp offers bite-size lessons on language, clarity, and scholarly style from the counselors at Writer’s Camp.
This month, I have spent quite a bit of time thinking about two nurses whose deaths were felt deeply, both for me and across our community—Dr. Julia Snethen and Dr. Jacqueline Fawcett. As I reflected on my relationships with them, I realized I didn’t quite have the right word to describe our connections. They were more than colleagues, but not quite personal friends. That in-between space—familiar, meaningful, and rooted in shared work—needed a name–which I created: Frolleague.
Quick Definition
A frolleague is a professional colleague whom you also think of as a friend—but whose relationship remains primarily rooted in work rather than personal life.
In Practice
You look forward to seeing your frolleagues at conferences, on Zoom, or in your inbox. You may:
- share jokes or informal conversation
- exchange advice or perspective
- feel genuine affection and regard
But the relationship stays anchored in your shared professional world. You don’t necessarily:
- socialize outside of work settings
- involve them in your personal life
- rely on them for non-work support
A frolleague is a friend—just not a personal-life friend. This kind of relationship—friendly, collegial, and bounded by context—might be called frolleagueship.
Counselor’s Tip
It’s possible to value someone as a friend without expanding the relationship beyond its natural context.
Recognizing a frolleague helps you:
- appreciate connection without overextending it
- maintain appropriate boundaries
- and navigate professional relationships with clarity
Not every friendship needs to leave the workplace to be real.
Author: Leslie H. Nicoll
Reviewed and Edited by: Anjie Raber
Copyright © 2026 Writer’s Camp and Leslie H. Nicoll. CC-BY-ND 4.0
Citation: Nicoll LH. Wordcraft at Camp: Frolleague. The Writer’s Camp Journal, 2(1):20. 10.5281/zenodo.19192973
thank you for this new word — it is very helpful to describe those special relationships that shape our work. I have often wondered how to describe their presence and how these special people have shaped our scholarship and work personhood. I too hold both these frolleagues as dear. I did not know Julie as well but I have very fond memories of spending two semesters with Dr. Fawcett when I was a doctoral student at PENN. I still have papers in my file with her comments and writing all over them — yes she definitely shaped my thinking about nursing science. So glad I had those critical experiences in my career development and growth.
thanks again!! Jackie
What a wonderful new word and meaning, Leslie. I appreciate your definition of a frolleague. It rings true for me in many of my professional relationships.