A person with whom you are insufficiently acquainted to either make easy small talk or enjoy a
comfortable silence. An "awkwaintance" is often the
friend of a friend; he or she is promoted to the position of "awkwaintance" when the
mutual friend leaves you two alone.
(Ash and Gary are at dinner. Brock walks up.)
Ash: Oh, hey, it's Brock! What's going on, man! This is Gary; Gary, Brock. Join us, Brock!
(Brock joins.)
(10 minutes later.)
Ash: Sorry,
I have to go be somewhere by myself for an unspecified length of time. Later, guys!
(Gary and Brock, newly made awkwaintances, finish their meals in
uncomfortable silence, punctuated by disjointed
small talk and uneasy chuckling.)